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 Ryan O'Donnell

Feb 13, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Poole sentenced Ryan O'Donnell to 3 years and 8 months' imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to charges involving explosive substances and indecent images of children. He was also sentenced to a 12 month supervised release order and made subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for a period of 10 years.

HMA v William Budge

Feb 5, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, William Budge was sentenced to 7 years and 4 months' imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to attempted murder.

HMA v Iain Owens, Elaine Lannery, Lesley Williams, Paul Brannan, Scott Forbes, Barry Watson & John Clark

Jan 27, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Beckett sentenced Iain Owens, Elaine Lannery, Lesley Williams, Paul Brannan, Scott Forbes, Barry Watson & John Clark to Orders for Lifelong Restriction for their parts in the serious abuse of young children. The punishment parts of the sentences, the minimum time they must spend in prison before being considered for release into the community, were set at: 20 years for Owens; 17 years for Lannery; 14 years for Williams; 15 years for Brannan; 8 years for Forbes; 9 years and 6 months for Watson; and 10 years for Clark.

HMA v Sonya Henderson

Jan 21, 2025

At Wick Sheriff Court, Sheriff Neil Wilson sentenced Sonya Henderson to a Community Payback Order for 12 months after she pled guilty to causing death by careless driving. She was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. Sheriff Wilson also disqualified her from driving for a period of 25 months.

HMA v James Maris

Jan 21, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Hood sentenced James Maris to a Community Payback Order for a period of three years after he pled guilty to firearms charges including attempting to manufacture a firearm without authority to do so. He was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work and placed under supervision. Lady Hood also imposed a Restriction of Liberty Order for a period of 12 months.

HMA v David Wilson

Jan 17, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow today, Judge Kevin McCallum imposed a Cumulo sentence of 10 years imprisonment on David Wilson after he was convicted of 5 charges of sexual abuse perpetrated against two much younger females.

HMA v Ross Platt

Jan 17, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Kevin McCallum KC sentenced Ross Platt to an extended sentence of 14 years after the offender was convicted of attempted murder and assault. The custodial part of the sentence was set at 11 years.

HMA v Issa Saleh Mohamed

Jan 16, 2025

At the High Court in Kilmarnock, Lord Harrower imposed a 56 month prison sentence on Issa Saleh Mohamed. The offender pled guilty to charges of assault, robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.

HMA v Russell Maitland

Jan 14, 2025

At the High Court in Aberdeen, Judge Summers sentenced Richard Maitland to a 16 year extended sentence. The custodial part was set at 13 years, with an extension period under supervision in the community for 3 years.

HMA v Jason Murphy

Jan 9, 2025

At the High Court in Kilmarnock today, Lord Harrower sentenced Jason Murphy to 32 months in prison. Murphy had previously pled guilty to being involved in the supply of cocaine after being found in possession of around £400k of the class-A drug.

HMA v Charles Clydesdale

Jan 9, 2025

At the High Court in Livingston today, Judge Craig imposed a 2 year custodial sentence on Charles Clydesdale. The offender had been found guilty of lewd and indecent practices towards a 10 year old when he was 13. Clydesdale has been added to the sex offenders register and is also added to the list of people unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups.

HMA v Scott Wilson

Jan 8, 2025

At the High Court in Livingston, Judge Farquharson KC sentenced Scott Wilson to an extended sentence of 16 years after the offender was convicted of rape, assault and sexual assaults. The custodial part was set at 12 years' imprisonment.

HMA v James Ramsay

Jan 7, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Tait sentenced James Ramsay to a 3 year Community Payback Order after the offender pled guilty to sexual assault, stalking and communicating indecently. Ramsay was also made subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for a period of 3 years.

HMA v George Young Murphy

Jan 7, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson sentenced George Young Murphy to 7 years and 8 months' imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. Murphy was also disqualified from driving indefinitely.

HMA v Francis McConnachie

Jan 6, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson sentenced Francis McConnachie to 8 years' imprisonment after the offender was convicted of culpable homicide.

HMA v Alan Edward

Dec 19, 2024

At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Tait sentenced Alan Edward to an extended sentence of 15 years after the offender pled guilty to firearm and terrorism offences. The custodial term was set at 10 years and the extension period, the time spent on licence in the community, was set at five years.

HMA v Bam Nuttall Limited

Dec 18, 2024

At Lerwick Sheriff Court, Sheriff Ian Cruickshank fined Bam Nuttall Limited £800,000 after they tendered a plea of guilty to a contravention of section 2(1) and section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, in relation to the death of Liam MacDonald.

HMA v Darren Glass

Dec 13, 2024

At the High Court in Edinburgh Judge Collins sentenced Darren Glass to 8 years imprisonment after the offender was convicted of three charges of rape and one charge of domestic abuse. Judge Collins also made a non harassment order in respect of the complainers for a period of 15 years.

HMA v Nathan Cook

Dec 13, 2024

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Sheriff Komorowski sentenced Nathan Cook to 33 months imprisonment after the offender was convicted of violent behaviour towards his then partner, of threatening behaviour towards others, and to have breached bail conditions intended to protect a possible victim.

HMA v Kelvin Forrest

Dec 13, 2024

At the High Court in Livingston Judge Craig imposed an extended sentence of 7 years on Kelvin Forrest after the offender was found guilty of two charges of rape. The extended sentence comprises a detention period of 4 years with an extension period of 3 years.

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