Send him to prison: Family’s fury over ‘animal’ who drove daughter to suicide
THE family of a young student who took her own life following a ‘vicious and relentless campaign of abuse’ by her boyfriend have called for him to be jailed.
Emily Drouet, who was in her first year at the University of Aberdeen, was found dead in her halls of residence in March last year.
Her parents Fiona and Germain say Angus Milligan should be jailed after he pleaded guilty to verbally, mentally and physically abusing the 18-year-old law student over a two-month period in the weeks before her death.
Milligan, 21, admitted three charges when he appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday.
The psychology student, from Edinburgh, is from a distinguished family.
His late grandfather, Jim Milligan, was regarded as one of the most respected judges in Scotland, while his grandmother, Betty, was a descendant of the Fife-born philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
He pled guilty to behaving in a threathope ening or abusive manner, sending grossly offensive messages to his former girlfriend and injuring her in an assault at her apartment. The court heard that on March 10, 2016, Milligan turned up at Miss Drouet’s student accommodation, seized her by the neck and choked her, leaving her in fear of her life. She committed suicide a few days later.
Following the hearing, Mrs Drouet, who lives in Glasgow, said: ‘This boy came into our beautiful daughter’s life and, within a matter of months, he drove her to suicide. His actions were those of an animal and a bully and he has shown no remorse.
‘Violence against women and girls is a hugely important issue and the sheriff needs to send out a message that his actions cannot be tolerated.
‘Angus Milligan showed no mercy to our daughter through his vicious and relentless campaign of abuse. Nothing will bring Emily back but we that he feels the full force of the law.’
The court heard the couple met at university and began dating at the end of 2015.
Their relationship soured after Milligan was told his girlfriend had been unfaithful, although she was believed to have been pressured into it.
Assistant procurator fiscal for Grampian, Christopher MacIntosh, said: ‘The accused was very upset and angry when he found out. At that point the relationship between the accused and the complainer began to break down.’
Mr Macintosh said at the beginning of March last year, Milligan shouted from the window of his student flat calling Miss Drouet offensive names.
Milligan then turned up at her accommodation a few days before she died, where he choked her and smacked her head against a desk. He slapped the teenager, who later told friends she feared she was going to die in the choking incident. Defence lawyer Susan Duff said: ‘His behaviour to Emily Drouet was unacceptable. He will live with the knowledge that he assaulted her for the rest of his life.’
Mrs Drouet, who runs a clothing business, said: ‘We ache for Emily every second of every day.
‘She has a little brother and sister who are experiencing the kind of agony no child should ever have to endure. She left for university full of excitement at the bright future ahead of her. In her first few months she was flourishing, making lots of new friends, partying and loving learning.
‘That all ended when she met Angus Milligan. Today he has admitted relentlessly abusing Emily, emotionally, verbally and physically until she could take no more.
‘Angus Milligan stole Emily’s future leaving a gaping wound in all our lives that will never heal. We miss her every second of every day. We hope the court will impose a custodial sentence to show that our society won’t tolerate such evil.’
She added: ‘Our thoughts today are also with everyone affected by the tragic events in Manchester.’
A university spokesman said: ‘Emily was a bright and capable student, and her death was a tragedy that was deeply upsetting for all of us here.’
Sentence was deferred until July 5.
‘He has shown no remorse’ ‘Gaping wound in all our lives’