Easter Ross businessman jailed for stalking and tormenting wife
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AN Easter Ross businessman has been jailed for nearly three years for stalking and tormenting his wife for two years after their marriage ended.
And his 24 year-old daughter was placed on a community service order for her role in the offence prompting Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald to tell her she had been an "active participant" with her father in his attempt to control her mother.
Fifty year-old Kevin Miller who owns a tyre business in Evanton and his daughter Lauren were found guilty by a jury of engaging in a course of conduct which caused Linda Miller fear and alarm between May 2017 and April 2019.
Miller was also convicted of an assault on his wife in 1994.
Jurors heard from Mrs Miller how the assault took place at an address in Obsdale Gardens, Alness, before their marriage.
Sentence had been deferred for background reports. Kevin Miller had been remanded since May 15.
The sheriff heard from the background reports Kevin Miller had not accepted his guilt and was refusing to take part in any community-based sentence.
His solicitor Graham Mann said: "He clearly has a strong view where the truth lies as far as the history of the break-up of his family."
He added that any further contact with his wife would be unwanted and there was no likelihood of him trying to contact her.
Mr Mann said he could only try to persuade the court that time he had already spent in custody on remand as sufficient.
"There clearly has been a complete breakdown of the family. I hope a community disposal would be beneficial to all."
Solicitor Laura-Jane McFarlane representing Lauren Miller said there was no risk of her re-offending.
Her last contact with her mother was in December of last year and there is unlikely to be any contact.
Mrs Miller ran a car sales business in the same compound at Evanton Industrial Estate as her husband.
Ms McFarlane said Laura Miller was trying to build that business back up.
"It's been a very emotional experience for her," she said.
During the trial jurors heard how in 1994 Mrs Miller arrived home after a night out with her sisters, went to bed and was sick.
Miller came into the bedroom shouted and swore at her and assaulted her in their bedroom grabbing her around the wrist and swinging her against a wardrobe causing injury to her nose.
She grabbed a coat and fled to her parents house.
Miller was cleared of further charges of assault against his wife in 1998, 2011 and 2013.
His wife described years of verbal and physical abuse at the hands of her husband Miller (50) and their daughters Lauren and Courtney (22). They had denied 14 charges of stalking, including assaults, attempting to pervert the course of justice and threatening behaviour.
Eleven charges were dropped by the prosecution and Courtney was cleared on all charges.
Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald said Kevin Miller had refused to take part in any community-based disposal so there was no alternative to custody. She sentenced him to a total of 34 months and described the offences as "demonstrative action of coercive conduct " which was abusive and controlling causing distress and fear over a long time.
She said he had shown no remorse for his behaviour and its effect on his victim and others.
She told Lauren Miller she was "an active participant" in the offence and her mother still needed protecting from her.
She was ordered to carry out 280 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to custody.
Kevin Miller was placed on a five year non-harassment order and Lauren Miller for one year.
But the sheriff said in her case that could change.
