JOHN MCMILLAN FROM GLENROTHES SENTENCED FOR DECADE OF DOMESTIC ABUSE IN KIRKCALDY

John McMillan, a 38-year-old resident of Glenrothes, has been formally sentenced following his admission of guilt to a prolonged and systematic campaign of domestic abuse targeting three women who were once his romantic partners. The court proceedings revealed that McMillan, who has been characterized as a serial abuser, employed a variety of manipulative and controlling tactics to dominate and intimidate his victims over a span of ten years.

One particularly disturbing incident involved McMillan hiding all of a victim’s left shoes, effectively trapping her inside her own home. This act was part of a broader pattern of coercive control, designed to isolate and subjugate his victims. The case was heard at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, where the judge imposed a series of penalties aimed at both punishment and prevention of future offenses.

Among the sanctions was the installation of an electronic ankle tag to monitor his movements, a strict curfew requiring him to remain within his residence from 7 PM to 7 AM for a period of eleven months, and a community payback order lasting two years. Additionally, McMillan was prohibited from making any contact with his victims for a period of three years. The court emphasized the importance of supervision during this time to ensure compliance and to mitigate the risk of reoffending.

One of McMillan’s victims, Lauren MacDonald, shared her thoughts on the outcome of the case. She described the sentencing as “poetic justice,” remarking, “The irony is he hid all my left shoes to keep me in my house and now the courts are keeping him in his.” She further reflected on the psychological manipulation she endured, stating, “There’s so much karma there and it’s almost like poetic justice. His power was always his secrets. No one knew what he was really like.”

Lauren recounted the harrowing experience of caring for McMillan’s injured hand after he inflicted injuries upon her during an assault in 2017. Her courage ultimately led her to confide in her family during a holiday, which prompted her to report the abuse to the police and seek justice.

During the court proceedings, McMillan’s defense attorney argued that his client was suffering from mental health issues. While acknowledging that these issues did not excuse his abusive conduct, the lawyer suggested that intervention and treatment would be more appropriate than incarceration. The sheriff ultimately decided against imposing a custodial sentence, instead opting for a strict non-custodial order combined with rehabilitation programs. However, the court warned that if McMillan fails to comply with the imposed restrictions, he could face significant jail time in the future.