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.
—————————————————————————————————— NEW OFFENCE 2025-2026 ——————————————————————————————————- ⸻ A man described by the court as a persistent domestic abuser has been jailed after a series of violent incidents involving two former partners, including an attack in which a phone charging cable was used as a ligature.
Robert Montgomery, of Kirkcaldy, admitted multiple offences of domestic abuse and assault, along with driving-related offences, following incidents in Fife and Perthshire.
He was assessed by social work as presenting a high risk of physical harm to intimate partners.
The first victim had been in an intermittent relationship with Montgomery from September 2024.
In October that year, after drinking heavily at his Winifred Street home alongside his mother, an argument broke out in his bedroom.
During the confrontation, Montgomery wrapped a phone charging lead around the woman’s neck and tightened it.
She managed to keep breathing by forcing her fingers beneath the cable, but was left injured, including a cut to the back of her neck.
Although the woman believed the relationship had ended, contact later resumed through social media after Montgomery apologised.
Several months later, while Montgomery was staying at her home and helping decorate her hallway, another dispute arose—this time about finances.
During the argument, he hurled a tray of paint at her.
Montgomery later pled guilty to a course of abusive behaviour towards her, resulting in injury.
The court also heard evidence relating to a separate incident involving a second partner during a short break near Alyth in May.
After an evening of drinking, the woman fell asleep, only to wake to Montgomery shouting and acting aggressively.
When she attempted to calm him, he shoved her into a wall, causing her to hit her head and ear.
Believing the situation had settled, she lay back down, but later discovered Montgomery had left the cottage in the owner’s van.
Fearing for her safety, she walked to Strathmore Golf Club and reported the assault to staff, who contacted police after noticing a visible swelling on her forehead.
The vehicle was later traced to Kirkcaldy, and Montgomery was arrested several days later at his mother’s address.
Montgomery admitted assaulting the second woman in a domestically aggravated offence, as well as driving without a licence or insurance.
At the time of his arrest, he had already paid £5,000 towards a £7,000 compensation order relating to earlier domestic abuse against another partner, including an incident where he dragged a pregnant woman down a staircase.
Defence counsel acknowledged Montgomery’s history of offending but asked the court to consider alternatives to custody, noting that he had been on remand since May and had abstained from alcohol during that time.
It was also said that his mother hoped he would be released to assist in her care.
The court rejected these submissions.
Sheriff Steven Borthwick KC sentenced Montgomery to 32 months’ imprisonment and disqualified him from driving for 27 months.
Non-harassment orders were imposed to protect both victims for a period of five years.
In sentencing, the sheriff stated that community-based measures had repeatedly failed and that professional assessments concluded there was no confidence such disposals would reduce the risk he posed.
At the time of the offences, Montgomery had already been subject to a community sentence for domestic abuse involving four previous partners over a decade, and had been ordered to complete a domestic abuse rehabilitation programme.
The sheriff concluded that custody was the only appropriate response given the seriousness, pattern, and escalation of Montgomery’s behaviour.
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