Deranged dad threatens to kill wife then booby-traps home with firebomb

Jul 13 2008 By Charles Lavery

A DERANGED dad threatened to kill his ex-wife and booby-trapped their home with a firebomb on the day the locks were to be changed.

Thomas Strain crawled out of a back window and watched as police and sheriff officers forced their way in.

Inside they were confronted by petrol bombs, nails and lit candles.

Former TA soldier Strain went on the run after he rigged the family home in Irvine to explode but was caught months later and has now been jailed.

He also told former wife Morag that he would kill her forcing her to flee their home town with their three children.

A friend said: "It has been a living hell for Morag. The guy is a monster. She still trembles at the mention of his name."

Lorry driver Strain, 46, had been fighting a legal battle to see his children and appeared in court last week wearing a T-shirt with the misspelled message "RITES FOR DADS".

Lawyer Graeme Cunningham said: "He has gone through an acrimonious divorce.

"He said he felt that by igniting the petrol it would engulf his home and draw attention to his plight but he accepts others could have been placed at risk.

"He made good his escape and did not carry out his plan.

"He feels that there is a conspiracy to remove him from everything he has of value, be it monetary, his home or his children."

Strain admitted having an explosive substance with intent to endanger life, leaving a bag of nails next to a petrol canister, leaving candles lit and unattended and making a petrol bomb with a bottle and rag.

Afriend of Morag's said: "He said he would kill her and take the children from her.

"She has tried to sever every link with him and burned their wedding album.

"The police had to take the only photo, which her son had kept, in a bid to track him down."

The friend said Strain had made Morag's life hell since they divorced in 2006 after 15 years of marriage.

They added: "Morag had to be careful 24 hours a day. He was always following her, threatening her and accusing her of ruining his life.

"He threatened to kill her when he thought he wasn't going to get to see his children.

"Then he had the audacity to walk into court with a T-shirt on declaring his rights.

What about Morag's rights?

"Thank God he's behind bars and she can sleep easier at night."

Strain was jailed for 22 months at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court after admitting the bomb plot.

Morag, 44, declined to comment last night.

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'he guy is a monster..she still trembles at the mention of his name'Family friend