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.  

Follow us if you wish to receive alerts as soon as statements are published. 

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.

Read more about civil judgments.

HMA v William Whyte

May 20, 2021

At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lord Braid sentenced William Whyte to 6 years’ imprisonment after the offender was found guilty of raping a 15-year-old.

Read more

 

HMA v Graham McGill

May 18, 2021

At the High Court in Aberdeen, Lord Burns today sentenced Graham McGill to life imprisonment after the offender was found guilty of murder.

Read more

 

HMA v Kevin Guthrie

May 14, 2021

At Glasgow Sheriff Court today Sheriff Hughes sentenced Kevin Guthrie to 3 years imprisonment after the offender was found guilty of a contravention of Sections 2 and 3 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009.

Read more

 

HMA v Finlay Hutchison and Kyle McLachlan

May 13, 2021

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Lord Boyd sentenced Kyle McLachlan to 20 months detention after the offender pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and imposed a Community Payback Order on Finlay Hutchison who pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Read more

 

Craig Murray: Petition and Complaint

May 11, 2021

Today at the High Court, a period of eight months’ imprisonment was imposed on Craig Murray after three judges determined that he had acted in contempt of court in relation to the HMA v Alex Salmond trial. The Court delayed the issuing of the warrant for imprisonment for a period of three weeks to allow Craig Murray to appeal the decision.

Read more

 

HMA v Scott Roddie and Connor Holmes

May 11, 2021

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Lord Boyd of Duncansby sentenced Scott Roddie and Connor Holmes after the offenders pleaded guilty to offences involving the trafficking of class A drugs. Scott Roddie was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months imprisonment and Connor Holmes was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months imprisonment.

Read more

 

HMA v Sean Orman

May 7, 2021

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Lord Beckett sentenced Sean Orman to life imprisonment, with a punishment part of 28 years, after the offender was found guilty of murder and attempted murder.

Read more

 

HMA v Dean Stevens

May 7, 2021

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Lady Carmichael imposed an Order for Lifelong Restriction, with a punishment part of 2 years and 3 months, on Dean Stevens after the offender pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman with the intention of raping her.

Read more

 

HMA v Liam Scott

May 5, 2021

At Edinburgh High Court today Lady Scott sentenced Liam Scott to 5 years 4 months imprisonment after the offender pleaded guilty to breaking into a couple’s home and assaulting and robbing them.

Read more

 

HMA v Garrie Lee McCann

May 5, 2021

At the High Court in Glasgow today Lord Weir imposed an extended sentence of 11 years and 4 months, comprising a custodial term of 8 years and 4 months and an extension period of 3 years, on Garrie Lee McCann after the offender pleaded guilty to culpable homicide.

Read more

 

HMA v Colin Marshall

May 4, 2021

At the High Court in Livingston today Lord Braid imposed an extended sentence of 18 years on Colin Marshall, with a custodial term of 12 years and extension period of 6 years, after the offender was found guilty of attempted murder.

Read more

 

HMA v Alexander Morgan

Apr 15, 2021

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Richardson today sentenced Alexander Morgan to 8 years’ imprisonment after the offender was found guilty of the sexual abuse of children.

Read more

 

HMA v Kieran Ali

Apr 14, 2021

At Hamilton Sheriff Court today, Sheriff Daniel Kelly QC sentenced Kieran Ashard Ali to 32 months' imprisonment after the offender pleaded guilty to sending messages of a sexual nature via social media to recipients whom he thought to be children.

Read more

 

HMA v Christopher Robertson

Apr 6, 2021

At Edinburgh High Court today Lord Boyd sentence Christopher Robertson to 5 years imprisonment after the accused was found guilty of rape.

Read more

 

HMA v Paul Balarsky

Mar 26, 2021

At Glasgow Sheriff Court today Sheriff Mackenzie imposed a Community Payback Order on Paul Balarsky, with a supervision period of 3 years and a requirement to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work or other activity within the next 12 months, after the accused was found guilty of committing four sexual assaults on three different female complainers.

Read more

 

HMA v Damien McCann

Mar 24, 2021

Today at the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Scott sentenced Damien McCann to an extended sentence of 13 years and 6 months after the offender pleaded guilty to a number of serious charges of child sexual abuse.

Read more

 

HMA v Colin Sangster and Alexander Sangster

Mar 15, 2021

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Lord Beckett imposed sentences on Colin Sangster and Alexander Sangster after both accused were found guilty of attempted murder by driving a car. An extended sentence was imposed on Alexander Sangster of 13 years and 6 months with a custodial term of 10 years and 6 months to run consecutively to a sentence he is currently serving. Colin Sangster was sentenced to 8 years and 4 months imprisonment.

Read more

 

HMA v Jarron Rutherford and Kevin Gerrard Pullar

Mar 3, 2021

At Livingston High Court today Lord Arthurson sentenced Jarron Rutherford to 5 years and 6 months imprisonment after the accused pleaded guilty to charges involving extortion, attempted extortion and theft of a car. Kevin Gerrard Pullar was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months imprisonment after the accused pleaded guilty to extortion, attempted extortion and a charge libelling a contravention of section 16A of the Firearms Act 1968.

Read more

 

Clive Thomson

Feb 25, 2021

Clive Thomson was today ordered to be imprisoned for 6 months at the High Court in Edinburgh for contempt of court in relation to the trial of HMA v Alex Salmond.

Read more

 

HMA v Mark Lawson

Feb 25, 2021

At Glasgow High Court today Lord Arthurson imposed an extended sentence of 7 years and 6 months, comprising a custodial part of 4 years and 6 months and an extension period of 3 years, on Mark Lawson after the accused pleaded guilty to attempted rape to injury.

Read more