The boyfriend of an Aberdeen University student who took her own life following weeks of his abuse has been spared jail.
Angus Milligan carried out a campaign of abuse against law student Emily Drouet in March last year.
As well as bombarding her with menacing and offensive messages Milligan also attacked her leaving her scared for her life.
And as the abuse escalated the 18-year-old was eventually found dead in her halls of residence on March 17 last year, shortly after he had left her room.
Yesterday Milligan narrowly avoided jail for his actions when he appeared to be sentenced, while Miss Drouet’s parents labelled him a “vicious abuser” who stole her daughter’s life.
Milligan, a distant descendant of the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, had previously admitted carrying out the abuse when he appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court in May.
Representing the 21-year-old defence advocate Susan Duff claimed the couple’s turbulent relationship stemmed from her client discovering Miss Drouet had engaged in a threesome with a relative of his.
She said this caused other students at the university halls to mock him as “the man whose girlfriend had a threesome.”
She said: “He found this extremely difficult to deal with.”
She added: “If he thought she was capable of acting in the way she did he would never have left the room.
“That will remain with him.”
But it then emerged from fiscal depute Christopher Macintosh, who objected to this line being raised in court, that Milligan had blackmailed Miss Drouet into engaging in sex with him and his friend.
Mr Macintosh added: “The society that failed to protect Miss Drouet has now failed to protect her memory.
“Mr Milligan blackmailed her into engaging in a threesome with a rugby teammate, he told her they would never have sex again if she didn’t do this.”
Sentencing Milligan, Sheriff Malcolm Garden said remorse had only been shown after Miss Drouet’s had died, however he said he had not been convicted for causing the young woman’s death.
He said: “The circumstances concerning this case are utterly tragic.
“The procurator fiscal does not seek to prove claim that you caused Miss Drouet’s death.
“The three charges you have admitted to demonstrate a course of conduct over a sustained period of time that is violent.
“You have demonstrated remorse but that is more to do with subsequent events rather than what happened at the time.
“A custodial sentence is an option but it is not the only option.
“You appear before us as a young man with no previous convictions and the court must take that and your age into account.”
Milligan, of Drummond Place in Edinburgh, was placed under supervision for a year and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.
Miss Drouet’s parents Fiona and Germaine, who reside in the Southside of Glasgow, have been unable to return to work since her death.
Speaking after the sentence her mother branded Milligan a “vicious abuser” who stole her daughter’s life.
She said: “Angus Milligan has been unmasked as a vicious abuser who stole our daughter’s life.
“Emily was studying law because she believed in justice and wanted to make a difference.
“Today marks her first legal victory.
“No sentence Angus Milligan receives can reflect the destruction he has caused or bring Emily back.”
She was also angered by the defence agent’s reference to the sexual activity in court and said it was “not true”.
She said: “Angus Milligan had for a sustained length of time suggested a sexual activity with Emily and his friend.
“That sexual activity then happened but it wasn’t on the terms that he wanted and the defence admitted Emily was too drunk to even remember.
“We can only hope that by telling Emily’s story that no young woman will have to suffer at the hands of Angus Milligan again.
“Domestic abuse kills.”
Inspector Lee Jardine, of Police Scotland, urged people with concerns about abuse to contact the force.
He said: “Domestic abuse is a complex issue and tackling it is an absolute priority for us in our efforts to keep people safe.
“Our focus is on raising awareness, supporting those affected and bringing those responsible to justice.
“We always encourage those with concerns to report them to us on 101.”