A shocking incident occurred in Barrhead when a woman had to lock herself in her car to protect herself from her abusive ex-partner. Paul Millan breached a court order by shouting abusive language at Sarah Montgomery on September 5, despite being prohibited from approaching or contacting her. The 44-year-old was granted the court order on June 26 with strict conditions regarding his interactions with Montgomery. However, Millan’s actions at a shop in Barrhead’s Arthurlie Avenue instilled fear and alarm in Sarah Montgomery, prompting her to seek refuge in her car and contact the police.
During the incident, Montgomery heard Millan shouting derogatory remarks at her, causing her distress and prompting her to take immediate action to ensure her safety. Following the confrontation, police were called to the scene, and Millan was later arrested at his home address on September 11. Despite Millan’s claims of provocation, the court found his behaviour unacceptable and a breach of the court order.
In court, Procurator Fiscal Depute Michael Cunningham highlighted the impact of Millan’s actions on Montgomery, describing her as “extremely fearful” of him and supportive of implementing a non-harassment order. Defence agent Tony Callaghan acknowledged the verbal exchange captured on CCTV but emphasized the seriousness of Millan’s breach of the court order.
Sheriff Sean Lynch deemed Millan’s actions to have met the custody threshold based on the offence and his previous record. However, taking into account the recommendations in the social work report, Lynch decided to impose a community payback order as an alternative to custody. Millan was ordered to complete 67 hours of unpaid work in the community and was placed under the supervision of the social work department for 12 months. Additionally, a non-harassment order was issued, prohibiting Millan from approaching or contacting Sarah Montgomery for a year.
This incident serves as a reminder of the far-reaching impact of domestic abuse and the importance of upholding court orders to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals. It also underscores the legal consequences perpetrators face for breaching such orders and the measures imposed to prevent further harm in the future.