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 Richard Taylor
May 31, 2024
His Lordship delivered the following sentencing statement:
“Richard Taylor, you have pled guilty by section 76 procedure to two charges of being concerned in the supplying of Class A drugs on a single day contrary to sections 4(1) and 4(3)(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The maximum street value of the cocaine involved was £27,420 and the maximum street value of the heroine involved was £9,380. In addition to the drugs there was drug dealing paraphernalia and about £350 in cash. You have previous convictions for class A drug trafficking offences. On 2 September 2015 you were convicted at Aberdeen Sheriff Court of being concerned in the supplying of diamorphine and cocaine, for which you received two concurrent sentences of imprisonment of 30 months. On 12 March 2020 you were convicted at Aberdeen Sheriff Court of being concerned in the supplying of diamorphine and cocaine for which you received two concurrent sentences of imprisonment of 28 months.
As a result of these convictions, s.205B of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 applies in this case.
I take note of all that has been said on your behalf. I am satisfied having regard to the stage at which you indicated your intention to plead guilty and to the circumstances in which that indication was given that I ought to exercise the power in section 196(2) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 to pass a sentence of less than 7 years’ imprisonment but not less than 5 years 219 days’ imprisonment. In the whole circumstances I sentence you to 5 years’ 219 days imprisonment on each of charges 1 and 2. Those sentences are concurrent and both are backdated to 5 March 2024.”
31 May 2024