A violent ex-partner who stabbed a mother and her autistic son to death in front of her baby before going on the run has been jailed for 40 years.

A court heard how Daniel Boulton aged 30, walked 28 miles from a hostel in Skegness to Louth, Lincolnshire, to kill Bethany Vincent, 26, and her autistic nine-year-old son Darren Henson.

Boulton was the subject of a restraining order following a complaint by Ms Vincent.

She said he developed a ‘hatred’ for Darren due to his medical condition.

The court also heard how he waited for his partner and child before stabbing them ‘multiple times’ at around 8pm on May 31, 2021.

After looking for him for 24 hours, police captured him at a farm on the outskirts of Louth.

Boulton claims he was on ‘autopilot’ at the time of the murders, but jurors dismissed his defence of loss of control.

Sentencing him to life in prison, Mr Justice Pepperall, the presiding judge said there was a possibility he may never be released.

The judge told Boulton: ‘I’m sure that you targeted Darren because of your hatred and you were motivated by his autism.

‘I’m sure that you are a violent and very dangerous man, and you present an ongoing risk of further violence, and possibly even homicide.

‘You killed with ruthless efficiency very soon after breaking into the house.

‘You acted calmly, callously and efficiently … you intended to kill, you knew precisely what you were doing.’

Prosecutor Katherine Goddard QC said despite two restraining orders, Boulton ‘continued to contact Bethany – by telephone, by text message, by social media messages, and by unannounced and uninvited visits to her home’.