We would have loved a longer sentence for Milne, says domestic abuse charity

A member of a domestic abuse support charity has said “we would have loved a longer sentence” for a man whose campaign of abuse resulted in the death of his wife.

Kimberly Milne, 28, died after being struck by vehicles when she jumped on to the A90 in Dundee on July 27 2023.

She had been subjected to an 18-month abusive ordeal by her husband Lee Milne, 40, who was found guilty of causing her death at the High Court in Glasgow in March.

At the same court on Friday, Milne was sentenced to eight years behind bars plus a three-year extended sentence.

Milne’s conviction was welcomed by Nicole Ballingham, women’s service manager at Dundee Women’s Aid, a charity that supports women, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse.

However she said the group would like him to spend longer behind bars.

She was one of a number of members of Dundee Women’s Aid who attended the sentencing, along with members of Ms Milne’s family.

“I’m so happy that he’s been convicted of this crime and that he’s been held accountable,” Ms Ballingham said in an interview with the Press Association.

“We would have loved a longer sentence, of course, but happy with the outcome and justice for the family.”

In her sentencing remarks, Judge Lady Drummond told the court Milne had subjected his wife to repeated physical and emotional abuse over an 18-month period.

This included, she said, repeatedly punching and choking her, and “belittling” her by shouting and swearing at her, restricting her movements and controlling her access to money and transport.

She made the point that domestic abuse is something that usually “builds over time” from a series of different abusive acts.

“Domestic abuse is rarely about one incident,” she told the court.

“It is not only about violent acts.

“It includes more subtle, but nonetheless as harmful, exertions of power and control in a relationship.

“It builds over time. Each act — whether physical, psychological, or financial — adds to the next, increasing pressure and fear, eroding confidence and independence.

“It is the cumulative effect of the varied types of abuse that makes domestic abuse so harmful and damaging.”

Asked about the judge’s words, Ms Ballingham said: “It’s amazing to hear the recognition of the impact of domestic abuse and what it actually looks like, that coercive control, that abusive behaviour, that plays out over a long period of time and the impacts it can have.

“And to hear that being said in a court is crucial for raising awareness, understanding and making domestic abuse be taken seriously.”

Ms Ballingham also dismissed as “victim-blaming” the suggestion by Milne’s defence team that he had been trying to help his wife through a mental health crisis on the day of her death.

“My interpretation of that was that it was complete victim-blaming,” she said.

“Just my professional opinion, my personal opinion, that’s what I felt that was.

“There was no accountability taken by Mr Milne on the basis of that statement.”