Detective wife joins Interpol to 'escape her abusive husband'

Court hears cop claim that she was in fear of her 'menacing and aggressive' partner

- RORY CASSIDY

A TOP cop applied for an overseas job with an international crime-busting organisation to escape her abusive ex-husband, a court heard.

Paula Nicholas wanted to give herself "a lifeline" from businessman Russell Laing who denies four domestic abuse charges.

The detective inspector, seconded to Interpol from Police Scotland after her application was successful, made the claim at Laing's trial.

Paula, 50, told Greenock Sheriff Court: "I applied [ for the role] to give myself an option if we couldn't come good." Frequ & sev The breast cancer survivor, who is now based in Lyon, said she walked out on Laing, 50, on of atta New Year's Day, 2019.