ROBERT MONTGOMERY FROM KIRKCALDY SENTENCED FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE IN FIFE

A man from Kirkcaldy has been ordered to pay a total of £7,000 in compensation to four former partners he abused over a period spanning ten years. Robert Montgomery, age 41, narrowly avoided a prison sentence for his series of violent and threatening behaviors, which included dragging a pregnant woman down a staircase.

At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, Montgomery pleaded guilty to nine charges related to assaults at various addresses across Fife. Sheriff Robert More sentenced him to 270 hours of unpaid work, imposed a requirement for £7,000 in compensation—distributed as £2,000 to two women and £1,500 to each of the other two victims—and placed him on oversight for two years.

Additionally, Montgomery is required to undertake the Caledonian men’s programme aimed at addressing male domestic violence and is banned from contacting his victims for ten years. The court noted that Montgomery’s assessment for rehabilitation revealed traits of denialism, minimization, and blame-shifting. Despite this, the sheriff highlighted that Montgomery’s employment and lack of previous imprisonment are significant protective factors, and that the sentence is a direct alternative to prison.

The defendant, who is currently working and earning around £800 a week, was advised against custodial punishment, which his lawyer argued might worsen his views on relationships.

Court documents detailed Montgomery’s past abusive acts: he assaulted a woman in 2011, including an incident where he injured her while she was six months pregnant, and behaved abusively towards her and other partners in subsequent years. Specific acts ranged from physical assaults, such as punching and dragging, to damaging her possessions and making offensive remarks.

The court heard Montgomery had also engaged in violent and abusive behavior towards additional women in later years, including kicking, throwing objects, and making offensive comments. The sheriff acknowledged the victims' statements describing how Montgomery’s actions caused them significant suffering.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about domestic abuse and the importance of intervention programs aimed at changing such behaviors.