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 Peter Murray

Oct 9, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Carmichael sentenced Peter Murray to 10 years' imprisonment after the offender was convicted of indecent assault.

HMA v Gavin Gallagher

Oct 8, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Mulholland sentence Gavin Gallagher to life imprisonment for the murder of Stephen Gray. The punishment part, the time which must be spent in custody before parole is considered, was set at 20 years.

HMA v Alfie McCann

Oct 2, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson sentenced Alfie McCann to an extended sentence after the offender pled guilty to abduction and assault to injury. The custodial part was set at 8 years, while the extension period, the time spent under supervision in the community on release, was set at 2 years.

HMA v James John Dorans

Oct 2, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Poole sentenced James Dorans to an extended sentence after the offender was convicted of multiple charges involving the sexual abuse of children. The custodial term was set at 10 years and the extension period, the time spent under supervision in the community on release, was set at 3 years.

HMA v Steven Allan

Oct 2, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Carmichael sentenced Steven Allan to 4 years' imprisonment after the offender was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving. Allan was also disqualified from driving for a period of 7 years.

HMA v James Clacher

Oct 1, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Cubie imposed an extended sentence of 10 years on James Clacher after the offender was convicted of two charges of rape. The custodial term was set at 8 years with a 2 years extension period to be served in the community.

HMA v James Stewart Haram

Sep 30, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Thomas Hughes sentenced James Haram to 14 years' imprisonment after the offender was convicted of 19 charges including rape, assault to injury and danger of life, and sexual abuse of children.

HMA v Central Scotland Healthcare (St Andrews) Limited

Sep 26, 2025

At Dundee Sheriff Court, Sheriff Paul Ralph imposed a fine of £45,000 on Central Scotland Healthcare (St Andrews) Limited. The company had admitted failures in the Health and Safety at Work Act that led to the death of Mrs Katherine Bailes, aged 94.

HMA v Dylan Hood

Sep 26, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Renucci imposed a 4-year custodial term on Dylan Hood. The offender admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving at speeds of up to 134mph and further charges including refusing to comply with drink and drug tests. He has also been disqualified from driving for 14 years.

HMA v AB & CD

Sep 26, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Poole sentenced AB and CD to imprisonment for sexual offences. AB was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months' imprisonment for making and possessing extreme pornography. CD was sentenced to 9 years' imprisonment, with an extension period of 3 years under supervision in the community, for possessing extreme pornography, sexually assaulting a child, and creating and distributing indecent images of a child.

PF v John Trainer

Sep 24, 2025

At Dunfermline Sheriff Court, Sheriff Duff imposed a punishment of 300 hours unpaid work on John Trainer and ordered him to pay £5000 compensation. The offender had been found guilty of assaulting two police officers. He also pled guilty to behaving in a threatening and abusive manner that was aggravated by religious prejudice towards a member of the public.

HMA V James Cook and Brian Reilly

Sep 18, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Harrower sentenced James Cook and Brian Reilly to life imprisonment after they both pled guilty to murder. The punishment part, the minimum time someone must spend in prison before being eligible for parole, was set at 16 years and 8 months for John Cook and 15 years and 9 months for Brian Reilly.

HMA v Jack Benson, Dale Russell, Martin McCusker, Brendan Balloch, Kieran Hendry, Michael Munro & Kieran Meechan

Sep 12, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lady Drummond sentenced Jack Benson, Dale Russell, Martin McCusker, Brendan Balloch, Kieran Hendry, Michael Munro & Kieran Meechan to life imprisonment for murder. The punishment part was set at 20 years for Benson, 24 years for Russell, 23 years for McCusker, 17 years for Meechan, and 21 years for Balloch, Hendry and Munro.

HMA v Raymond Platt, Craig Colquhoun, Robert Park & Joseph McCulloch

Sep 10, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Fairley sentenced Raymond Platt, Craig Colquhoun, Robert Park & Joseph McCulloch to life imprisonment for their parts in the murder of Anthony Ferns. The punishment part, the time which must be spent in custody before parole is considered, was set at 23 years for Platt, 20 years for Colquhoun, 20 years for Park, and 18 years for McCulloch.

HMA v David Appleby

Sep 10, 2025

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Sheriff Iain Nicol sentenced David Appleby to 5 years' imprisonment after the offender was convicted of 10 charges involving the abuse of former partners.

PF v Michael Warren

Sep 9, 2025

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Summary Sheriff Collette Gallagher sentenced Michael Warren to a Community Payback Order after the offender pled guilty to sexual assault and communicating indecently. The order comprises supervision for 12 months and 180 hours of unpaid work.

HMA v Stephen Whitehurst

Sep 5, 2025

At the High Court in Dundee, Judge Bain sentenced Stephen Whitehurst to an extended sentence after the offender was convicted of 13 charges involving aggressive, threatening and abusive behaviour, and numerous incidents of sexual assault and rape. The custodial term was set at 16 years, while the extension period was set at 3 years.

HMA v Donald Gunn Sandilands also known as Donna Sandilands

Aug 27, 2025

At the High Court in Dundee, Lord Ericht sentenced Donald Gunn Sandilands (also known as Donna Sandilands) to 6 years' imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to assault to severe injury, permanent impairment, permanent disfigurement and danger of life.

HMA v Lothian Health Board

Aug 25, 2025

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Sheriff Dickson fined Lothian Health Board £70,000 after the health board pled guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

HMA v Nathan Johnston

Aug 21, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Poole sentenced Nathan Johnston to an extended sentence after he pled guilty to attempted murder. The custodial part was set at 6 years and 8 month, and the extension period was set at 3 years.

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