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.
HMA v David Bain
Mar 17, 2022
On sentencing, Lord Boyd made the following statement in Court:
“David Bain, you have been convicted of the murder of Clifford Anderson. In the early hours of the morning of 23 August 2020 you arranged to meet him through a dating website. You went to his house. You had sexual relations with him following which you stabbed him once through the heart as a result of which he died.
The circumstances of his death are not clear. According to you, you took two knives from the kitchen drawer with the intention of self-harming. You say that you were on the way to the front door when Mr Anderson came up behind you. You told this Court that you made a stabbing motion in order, you said, to get him away from you. There was no reason to take the knives and no reason to stab Mr Anderson.
What is clear is that Clifford Anderson did absolutely nothing which would have entitled you to assault him in any way. You left him dying on the hall floor in his own home. You did nothing to help him. You didn’t phone an ambulance or seek any assistance. Your actions that night were brutal and callous.
I have read the victim statements from the family. The emotional, and indeed financial toll on them is evident from these statements. But as they recognise no sentence that I can impose will bring Clifford Anderson back to his family.
You have struggled with mental health issues and addiction for some time as well as issues about your sexuality. I accept that you have sought help but I do not get the impression that you have made any serious attempt, or found the courage, to tackle your drug addiction. Until you are able to confront these issues yourself I fear that you will never make any sort of life for yourself.
There is only one sentence that I can impose; life imprisonment. But I am required by law to set a punishment part which is the minimum term that you can serve before you are eligible for parole.
I have listened carefully to what counsel has said on your behalf. You have a short criminal record but it includes a conviction at summary level for assault. You have not served a sentence of imprisonment. I take into account the expressions of remorse. You say that you wish you could apologise to Mr Anderson’s family but recognise that they might not want this. At least however you have shown some insight into the harm that you have caused.
The sentence of the court is that you shall be imprisoned for life with a punishment part of 16 years. The sentence will be backdated to 25 August 2020 when you first appeared on petition.”
17 March 2022