SENTENCING STATEMENTS

A judge may decide to publish a statement after passing sentence on an offender in cases where there is particular public interest; where a case has legal significance; or where providing the reasons for the decision might assist public understanding.

Please note that statements may include graphic details of offences when it is necessary to fully explain the reasons behind a sentencing decision.

Once charges are spent, any statement in relation to them is removed and cannot be provided or acknowledged. Statements published before the launch of the website may be available on request. Please email judicialcomms@scotcourts.gov.uk.

The independence of the judiciary is essential to safeguard people’s rights under law - enabling judges to make decisions impartially based solely on evidence and law, without interference or influence from the government or politicians.

When deciding a sentence, a judge must deal with the offence that the offender has been convicted of, taking into account the unique circumstances of each particular case. The judge will carefully consider the facts that are presented to the Court by both the prosecution and by the defence.

For more information about how judges decide sentences; what sentences are available; and matters such as temporary release, see the independent Scottish Sentencing Council website .

Read more about victims of crime and sentencing.

HMA v Edward Parsons

Aug 28, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge T Kelly imprisoned Edward Parsons for 64 months. Parsons had admitted causing the death of Scott Gilles by dangerous driving. The offender has been disqualified from driving for 12 years and 9 months.

HMA v William Murdoch

Aug 28, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge K.F. McCallum KC imposed a 7-year prison term on William Murdoch. The offender was found guilty following a trial of rape.

HMA v Robert Donaghy

Aug 25, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Harrower imposed a 3-year prison term on Robert Donaghy. The offender admitted threatening a member of a trial jury.

HMA v Matteullah Siddiqi

Aug 25, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Scott imposed an extended sentence of 8 years and 9 months on Matteullah Siddiqi. The offender pled guilty to charges including human trafficking and exploitation of a child, supplying class A drugs and struggling violently with police officers to severe injury. The offences occurred whilst Siddiqi was on bail. He will spend 6 years and 9 months in prison and a further 2 years on licence in the community.

HMA v Stephen Harley

Aug 25, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Harrower imposed an extended sentence on Stephen Harley after the offender pled guilty to two charges of assault on different women aggravated by being in a relationship with them at the time. The custodial term was set at 70 months with a 3 years extension period.

HMA v XY

Aug 25, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Harrower imposed an 18 years extended sentence after the offender was convicted of raping his own daughter over a period of 2 months. The custodial term was set at 12 years with extension period of 6 years.

HMA v Fraser Garden

Aug 21, 2026

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Braid imposed a prison sentence of 13 years and 6 months on Fraser Garden. The offender pled guilty to causing the death of John Bell by dangerous driving whilst under the influence of drugs as well as other offences.

HMA v Kieran Broom

Aug 20, 2026

At the High Court in Inverness, Judge Pasportnikov sentenced Kieran Broom to 9 years imprisonment after the offender was convicted of two charges of rape to injury and danger of life.

HMA v Allan’s of Gillock Limited

Aug 19, 2026

At Wick Sheriff Court, Sheriff Wilson imposed a £32,000 fine on Allan’s of Gillock Limited. The company admitted failings in the Health and Safety at Work Act that led to the death of Alan Guthrie.

HMA v Scott Howarth

Aug 19, 2026

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Braid imposed an extended sentence of 16 years and 3 months on Scott Howarth. The offender was convicted by a jury of charges against three women that include rape, assault and assault to the danger of life. Howarth will spend 13 years and 3 months in custody and a further 3 years on licence in the community. He has also been issued with non-harassment orders.

HMA v Laura Docherty

Aug 17, 2026

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge O'Grady imposed an Order for Lifelong Restriction on Laura Docherty. The offender was guilty of the attempted murder of a young child. Docherty can be held without limit of time and if she is released will be under supervision for the rest of her life. She has been set a punishment prison term of a minimum 6 years.

HMA v Courtney Gartshore

Aug 14, 2026

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Collins sentenced Courtney Gartshore to 6 years imprisonment. The offender was convicted of the culpable homicide of her infant daughter, Dahlia-Rose.

HMA v Thomas Irvine

Aug 12, 2026

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Harrower sentenced Thomas Irvine to 5 years and 4 months imprisonment. The offender pleaded guilty to assault to severe injury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

HMA v Kieran Lindsay & Marshall Andrew Strachan

Aug 10, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson imposed life sentences on Kieran Lindsay and Marshall Andrew Strachan, after the pair were found guilty of murdering John Taylor. They will both spend at least 18 years in prison before being considered for parole.

HMA v Joseph Greer

Aug 7, 2026

At the High Court in Dundee, Lord Renucci imposed a life sentence on Joseph Greer, after the offender pled guilty to murdering his partner, Samantha Lee. He will spend at least 22 years in prison before being considered for parole.

HMA v Osarenkhoe Atutie

Aug 5, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Cubie sentenced Osarenkhoe Atutie after the offender pled guilty to the attempted murder of his wife. He was given an extended sentence of nine years, with a custodial element of seven years and six months.

HMA v John Gray

Jul 31, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Cubie sentenced John Gray to five years and ten months imprisonment, after the offender pled guilty to his involvement in serious organised crime.

HMA v Aaron Strachan

Jul 27, 2026

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge O'Grady imposed an Order for Lifelong Restriction on Aaron Strachan, after the offender pled guilty to charges including rape and assault.

HMA v Ian McIntyre, Kieran Doherty, Calum McKelvie, Jack Sanderson and Martin James Tracey

Jul 27, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson sentenced five men each to 4 years and 6 months imprisonment. Ian McIntyre, Kieran Doherty, Calum McKelvie, Jack Sanderson and Martin James Tracey pled guilty to charges in their involvement of serious organised crime.

HMA v Owen McKee

Jul 27, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Matthews imposed an extended sentence on Owen McKee, after the offender pled guilty to an assault within HMP Barlinnie. The custodial term was set at 4 years and 6 months, and the extension period was set for 2 years.

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