ROBERT MONTGOMERY OF KILMARNOCK SENTENCED FOR HISTORIC ABUSE IN AYRSHIRE

Robert Montgomery, who passed away from lung cancer in May 2011, was previously convicted of abusing two young girls in Ayrshire over three decades ago. In January 2010, the 60-year-old from Kilmarnock was sentenced to six years in prison after a High Court in Glasgow found him guilty of sustained sexual abuse committed between 1978 and 1983.

The court heard that Montgomery began his abusive actions when the victims were just two and five years old. Judge John Beckett QC, sitting temporarily, ordered that upon his release, Montgomery be subject to three years of supervision and registration on the sex offenders’ register.

Addressing the severity of the crimes, the judge described the abuse as ‘depraved’ and emphasized that Montgomery had exploited the trust placed in him by the victims’ parents. The judge stated, “You performed a variety of sexual abuse and used acute emotional threats on your victims.”

He further remarked, “It is necessary to protect the public from you. I am informed you are assessed as posing a high risk of harm, and one report indicates you are at high risk of reoffending sexually.” In handing down the sentence, the judge took into account the heinous nature and repeated pattern of abuse committed by Montgomery.