SENTENCING STATEMENTS

On sentencing, Judge Arrol KC said:

"Mr Grant you pled guilty to charge 4, which is an assault to severe injury. This plea was tendered on 15 September, 2025 at the start of the trial diet but rejected by the Crown. You have been remanded in custody since 5 March, 2024.

Mr Hill you pled guilty to charge 1, which is an assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement. This plea was tendered at the preliminary hearing on 17 December, 2024 and rejected.  You have been remanded in custody since 9 May, 2024.

Both charges arose as a consequence of events at Union Street, Glasgow on 4 March, 2024 at 0020 hours. The events were captured on CCTV. 

Whilst both of you were standing with others on the pavement of Union Street, Glasgow, you, Mr Hill approached Mr Grant from behind. You put your arm around his neck and pulled a knife across his face, cutting him. Mr Grant ran onto the roadway to get away from you and you pursued him. I was told that Mr Grant narrowly missed running into the path of an oncoming bus.

A blue handled Stanley knife was later found on Union Street. It was established to be the knife which caused injury to Alexander Grant’s face.

A short time later, Mr Hill was lying on the ground following interactions with the first accused. You, Mr Grant were present as Mr Hill was kicked with force to the head. He was already in an unconscious state. You then stamped on his head and ran away.

You returned to Mr Hill, who was lying motionless on the roadway and tried to get to him again. Thankfully, you were prevented from doing so by other males. However, you managed to kick Mr Hill on the back, before running away. Police officers attended and detained you a short distance away after a brief chase.

It is accepted by the Crown that Mr Grant’s behaviour was provoked by the assault upon him by Mr Hill whereby he had sustained a severe injury to his face.

You, Mr Hill were taken to the Accident and Emergency department of Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow at around 0030 hours on 4 March 2024. You had sustained a blood clot between the skull and membrane covering your brain which was causing pressure on the brain.  Surgery was undertaken to remove the clot. You were discharged from hospital on 8 March 2024. You are expected to make a full recovery.

At around 0540 hours on 4 March 2024, you, Mr Grant attended the Accident and Emergency department of Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow. You were examined and found to have a full thickness, 3cm laceration to the right corner of your mouth which extended onto your face. The injury was cleaned and closed with sutures. The laceration injury has resulted in permanent scarring. 

I have taken into account all that has been said by each of your counsel this morning and all that is contained within the criminal justice and social work report.

Mr Grant:

You are 23 years of age; therefore, the Sentencing Young Person’s guidelines apply.

You have endured difficulties in your formative years. You have also had a long-standing issue with substance abuse. You state that all your offending has been whilst you were under the influence.

You have one child but that doesn’t appear to be an ongoing relationship.

You are no stranger to the criminal justice system. Your offending started in 2019 and has continued without break until now. You have convictions for assault, on indictment and at summary level. In addition, you have convictions for possession of a bladed instrument and offensive weapon, along with convictions for public disorder. It is a disturbing record for someone of 23 years of age. You are assessed as high likelihood of recidivism.  

I have taken account of the basis of your plea, that is under provocation. In addition, I have taken into account your age at the date of conviction. But for these factors, your sentence would have been significantly higher.

Accordingly, on charge four, I impose a period of imprisonment of 50 months, reduced to 45 months to take account of the timing of your plea. This will be backdated to 5^th July 2024 to take account of the sentence served whilst on remand in respect of this matter.

Mr Hill:

You are one day short of 33 years. You had a loving and supportive upbringing. You have three biological children and one stepchild. You have suffered mental health difficulties for some time.  Like your co-accused, substance misuse has been an ongoing feature of your life. You were under the influence at the time of this offence.

The risk assessment assesses you as high. You have a record of previous offending commencing in 2010 which includes multiple convictions for violence on indictment, including a conviction at the High Court of Justiciary in 2019 for assault to danger of life.

I am satisfied that the test set out in section 210A of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 is met. Consequently, the sentence which I am going to impose is known as an extended sentence. It is in two parts. The first part of the sentence is the period of imprisonment. The second part is the extension period when you will be on licence and under supervision in the community. When you are serving the extended period in the community, you will be subject to licence conditions fixed by the Scottish Ministers. If, during the extension period you fail to comply with the conditions of your licence, it may be revoked, and you may be returned to custody for a further period in respect of this indictment. This will be backdated to 9^th May, 2024.

In all the circumstances, I sentence you on charge one to an extended sentence of 5 years comprising a period of imprisonment of 4 years, this was discounted from 5 years 4 months to take account of the timing of your plea and an extension period of 1 year. 

That is all."

 06/11/2025