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 Steven Black

Apr 25, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Drummond sentenced Steven Black to an extended sentence after he pled guilty to attempted murder. The custodial term was set at 6 years and the extension period was set at 3 years.

On sentencing, Lady Drummond said:

"Mr Black you pled guilty to a charge of attempted murder. On 15 March 2024 you repeatedly struck the complainer on the head with an ornament to her severe injury and attempted to murder her. You were on bail at the time.

The circumstances were that you were visiting a friend’s home. You were all drunk and there was an argument about a firestick. You became angry and attempted to rip a television from the wall. You grabbed the firestick and tried to put it into your bag. When the complainer chased after you and was kneeling down to get it out the bag, you picked up a heavy crystal ornament. Standing over her, you struck her twice on the head with it. Blood began to pour from her head and you fled.

The complainer suffered a serious head injury: a complex fracture of her forehead. After she was discharged from hospital she returned with ongoing pain. She has two wounds both about 8cm in length, one to the right forehead and the other in the centre forehead crossing above the left eyebrow. Her injuries were not considered to be life-threatening.

The victim impact statement explains how your actions have had a deep traumatic effect on her. She is left with permanent facial disfigurement, nerve damage, in constant pain, having to take medication for the rest of her life. She says you have inflicted upon her a life sentence of pain, anxiety and emotional trauma. The lasting effect of the physical scars and mental trauma haunt her every day.

I have taken into account all that has been said on your behalf by Mr O’Currie this morning and all that is in the criminal justice and social work report.

You are now 45. You have four sons, grandchildren and have previously been in work before. You accept some responsibility for the offence and show some remorse.

The report explains that you have had difficult childhood experiences, long standing drugs issues and poor mental health. You have been engaging with addiction services in prison and plan to continue to do so. You are waiting to access a drug recovery course. You state that you intend to stop offending.

Your offending has been varied and persistent over a long period of time, though there are gaps. You have convictions for violence and police assault, misuse of drugs, motoring offences, attempting to pervert the course of justice, housebreaking with intent, breach of bail, theft, breach of the peace and offending when in prison. You have two High Court convictions, an assault to injury in 1997 when you were detained for 2 years, and assault to severe injury and danger of life and assault to severe injury, permanent impairment and danger of life in 2003 for which you were sentence to 7 years imprisonment. You have other convictions for assault for which you were imprisoned.

The author of the criminal justice and social work report assesses you at a high risk of re-offending.

I am satisfied having regard to your record, the circumstances of the offence, and the report, that an extended sentence is necessary to protect the public from serious harm from you.

I impose an extended sentence comprising 8 years, of which 4 months is attributable to you being on bail at the time. That sentence is reduced to 6 years because of the stage you pled guilty.

The extension period is 3 years which applies on your release from prison. During that period, you need to comply with licence conditions. If you do not, your licence may be revoked and you may be returned to custody.

Accordingly, the sentence I impose is an extended sentence of 9 years with a custodial term of 6 years and an extension period of 3 years. It is backdated to 26 April 2024."