A MOTHER threatened to blow up the house as three-year-old twins slept upstairs, a court heard.

Sadie Taylor, 37, of Stanley Street, Oswaldtwistle, was found by police on Monday night in the kitchen with the gas oven turned on, Blackburn magistrates were told.

The court was told the police were met outside by Taylor's husband who claimed she had gone "berserk."

But defence solicitor Andrew Church-Taylor said that during the argument that preceded the police being called Taylor's partner had urinated on her and smashed her phone when she tried to call for assistance.

Taylor, 37, admitted a breach of the peace and was bound over in the sum of £100 to keep the peace for 12 months.

John Wood, prosecuting, said the incident happened just before midnight and police who attended were told Taylor was inside smashing up the property.

They were invited to go in and found Taylor standing next to the cooker.

"There was a strong smell of gas and she tried to prevent the officers getting to the cooker to switch it off," said Mr Wood.

Mr Church-Taylor revealed that Taylor had been before the same court on Saturday when she had been bound over following another incident.

"Clearly there is an underlying problem," said Mr Church-Taylor.

He said that following the first court appearance Taylor had gone back to her mother's address and had only returned to the matrimonial home on Monday.

"Her partner went out drinking and she stayed in the house drinking," said Mr Church-Taylor.

"When he returned he initially went to bed but then came down and accused her of sleeping with other men. He took her glasses off and snapped them."

Mr Church-Taylor said Taylor initially went into the kitchen to get away from her partner but he followed her and urinated on her before smashing her phone.

"She accepts that she turned on the gas stove and threatened to blow the house up and she continued to make those threats after the police arrived."