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.
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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 Henry Laverty
Apr 8, 2026
On sentencing, Judge D Brown made the following remarks:
"On 10 March 2025 you pled guilty to a charge of assaulting your partner in September 2024. The attack was captured on public space CCTV and the video recording of the incident showed that it was vicious and brutal. It was apparently sparked off by something she said but the fact that you reacted with such extreme violence was a matter of considerable concern. The degree of violence was reflected in the injuries she sustained, in particular fractures to six of her ribs.
"Apart from the fact that the complainer was your partner, there was the aggravating factor that you were on bail at the time, having been released on bail only some three weeks previously in respect of an allegation of assault to severe injury involving an attack on another man which resulted in a fractured jaw. I understand that you have since pled guilty to that charge.
"A further aggravating feature was your extensive and serious criminal record. You have 49 previous convictions, including 12 convictions for assault. In particular in May 2016 at Glasgow High Court you were convicted on a charge of assaulting a previous partner to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment and this resulted in an extended sentence of 7 years. The court, in imposing an extended sentence, was plainly satisfied that you would present a risk of serious harm to the public on your release. That view was clearly correct given the commission of the current offence.
"Given these various factors a risk assessment order was made in order that the level of risk to the public on your release from the sentence in this case could be thoroughly investigated and assessed.
"As a result of that order a comprehensive risk assessment report was prepared by an experienced and accredited risk assessor, Dr John Marshall, a Consultant Forensic and Clinical Psychologist. He concluded that you present a high risk in terms of the Standards and Guidelines issued by the Risk Management Authority, meaning in brief that
- you have certain characteristics, described in his report, which result in a propensity or tendency to act in a way which seriously endangers the public,
- these characteristics are unlikely to change, and
- the risk of serious danger to the public will remain for the foreseeable future.
"Having considered his report, the nature and circumstances of the current offence and your criminal record and past behaviour, I am satisfied that there is a likelihood that, if at liberty, you will seriously endanger the lives, or physical or psychological well-being, of members of the public at large. Accordingly, the statutory criteria for making an order for lifelong restriction in sec 210E of the Criminal Procedure (Sc) Act 1995 are met and I am making such an order."
8 April 2026