ROBERT MCPHERSON'S BRUTAL CRIMES IN KIRKCALDY AND LOCHORE REVEALED

In a series of disturbing incidents spanning over a decade, Robert McPherson, a 43-year-old man from Balbedie Avenue, Lochore, has been convicted of multiple violent crimes that have left a trail of suffering and trauma for his victims in the towns of Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline, and surrounding areas.

One of the most recent offenses involved McPherson's violent conduct during an attempted theft at an ATM located within the Morrisons supermarket in Kirkcaldy on the evening of December 12. The incident unfolded at approximately 9:39 pm, when a woman was in the process of withdrawing £200 from the machine. McPherson approached her with the apparent intent to steal her money. According to reports, he grabbed her wrists, pushed her forcefully, and struggled to wrest the cash from her grasp. Despite her resistance, he managed to snatch the money and fled the scene.

Following the theft, a passerby gave chase, but McPherson managed to evade capture by disappearing into the promenade area of the town. The woman sustained minor injuries, including bruises and grazes on her right forearm, as a result of the assault. Law enforcement officials quickly identified McPherson through CCTV footage and banking records, which confirmed his involvement. Further investigation revealed that he was found in possession of £110, the amount stolen during the robbery. He was subsequently apprehended and identified from the CCTV images. McPherson's defense argued that his actions were 'doomed to detection' because he used his own bank card during the theft and was experiencing heroin withdrawal at the time. However, the court dismissed these claims.

Presiding over the case was Sheriff Grant McCulloch, who condemned McPherson's conduct, describing the incident as 'very upsetting' for the victim. The court sentenced him to 14 months in prison, to be served after his current incarceration. The £110 seized from him was ordered to be forfeited.

Beyond this recent incident, McPherson's history of violence is extensive and deeply troubling. He has a documented pattern of abuse directed at his former partner, Lesley McKean, whom he assaulted on multiple occasions between February 10, 2005, and May 24, 2015. These assaults took place at various locations, including Abbotsford Road and Balbedie Avenue in Lochore, as well as at the Asda supermarket on Halbeath Road in Dunfermline.

Witnesses and victims described a reign of terror, with McPherson repeatedly grabbing, pushing, and physically assaulting Lesley. His violent tactics included pushing her, grabbing her by the hair and dragging her, holding a knife against her throat, and threatening to kill her. He also struck her with a golf club, kicked objects out of her hands, and even held her in a headlock, restricting her breathing. These acts caused significant injuries and emotional trauma. His violence extended beyond his partner, as he was also convicted of assaulting his daughter with a belt, an incident that prompted her to report the abuse to police.

One of his daughters, now 21 years old, provided testimony at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, recounting her childhood experiences of abuse at her father's hands. Her account detailed the ongoing violence and threats she endured, including a chilling warning from McPherson that if she ever left him, he would 'cut her head off and put it on a stick in her mother’s garden.'

McPherson's criminal record includes multiple charges of assault, threats of violence, and other aggressive behaviors. During the five-day trial last month, the jury found him guilty of three charges related to his assault on Lesley McKean, as well as additional charges of assaulting his daughter and making threats of violence. The court heard that his violent conduct spanned over ten years, with extreme levels of brutality directed at both his partner and his young daughter.

In sentencing, Sheriff Charles Macnair emphasized the severity and prolonged nature of McPherson's violence. He described the offenses as 'extreme' and expressed concern over the impact on the victims. McPherson was sentenced to two years in prison, with an additional 12-month supervised release order to follow his incarceration, reflecting the court's condemnation of his actions and the need for ongoing monitoring.