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 Ross Ian MacDougall and Dawn Smith

Dec 4, 2020

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Lord Uist sentenced Ross Ian MacDougall and Dawn Smith after they were both found guilty of murder. Ross Ian MacDougall was sentenced to life imprisonment with a punishment part of 23 years. Dawn Smith was sentenced to life imprisonment with a punishment part of 20 years 2 months.

HMA v Katherine Vaughan

Dec 1, 2020

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Lord Beckett sentenced Katherine Vaughan to 3 years and 9 months imprisonment after the accused pleaded guilty to a charge of embezzlement carried out at premises in Aberdeen occupied by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

HMA v Daryl Gowers

Dec 1, 2020

At the High Court in Glasgow today Lord Fairley imposed an extended sentence of 11 years on Daryl Gowers, with a custodial term of 7 years and an extension period of 4 years, after the accused was found guilty of 4 charges of rape and an additional charge under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act, 2009.

HMA v Ceilidh Lynn Howie

Nov 27, 2020

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Lord Arthurson imposed a Community Payback Order of 3 years duration with a supervision requirement throughout, and a requirement of 300 hours of unpaid work to be carried out within the first year, on Ceilidh Lynn Howie after she was found guilty of causing death by careless driving. The accused was also disqualified from driving for a period of 6 years.

HMA v Michael Hall

Nov 27, 2020

At the High Court in Glasgow today Lord Braid sentenced Michael Hall to 4 years imprisonment and disqualified him from driving for 7 years and 4 months after the accused pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and to a charge of driving with excess alcohol in his body.

HMA v Darren Lethorn

Nov 24, 2020

At the High Court in Paisley today Lord Matthews imposed an extended sentence of 14 years on Darren Lethorn consisting of a custodial element of 11 years and an extension period of 3 years after he was found guilty of two charges of attempted murder.

HMA v William James Cosgrove Belk

Nov 19, 2020

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Lord Uist imposed an order for lifelong restriction on William James Cosgrove Belk with a punishment part of 3 years 6 months imprisonment after the accused pleaded guilty to sexual assault with penetration and attempted rape.

HMA v Abel Nidal Houmeidame Diaz & John Patrick Killy MacDonald

Nov 18, 2020

At the High Court in Glasgow on Monday 16 November 2020 Lord Boyd of Duncansby sentenced Abel Nidal Houmeidame Diaz & John Patrick Killy MacDonald after they pleaded guilty to of a series of thefts by housebreaking and a charge of reset. Abel Nidal Houmeidame Diaz was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment, and John Patrick Killy MacDonald was sentenced to 3 years 4 months imprisonment.

HMA v Daniel Alexander Wilson

Nov 12, 2020

At Edinburgh High Court today Lord Arthurson sentenced Daniel Alexander Wilson to 6 years detention after he was found guilty of two charges of rape and one of sexual assault.

HMA v Lee Ibbotson

Nov 9, 2020

At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lord Arthurson sentenced Lee Ibbotson to 5 years’ imprisonment after the offender was convicted of raping a young woman while she was intoxicated with alcohol, and incapable of giving or withholding consent.

HMA v Sharon Goldie

Oct 29, 2020

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Lord Beckett sentenced Sharon Goldie to 3 years and 6 months imprisonment after the accused pleaded guilty to wilfully neglecting and ill-treating her daughter and preventing her from obtaining appropriate, timely and adequate medical assistance when she developed peritonitis and consequently died on 26 July 2018; contrary to the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937, Section 12(1) as amended.

HMA v David Andrew Johnstone

Oct 8, 2020

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Lord Uist imposed a compulsion order authorising detention in the State Hospital on David Andrew Johnstone after he was charged with murder and attempted murder. Lord Uist also ordered that the accused will be subject to the special restrictions set out in Part 10 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 without limit of time.

HMA v Stephen Craig Jones

Sep 15, 2020

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Lord Doherty sentenced Stephen Craig Jones to 3 years imprisonment and disqualified him from driving for 4 years and 8 months after the accused pleaded guilty to causing the death of two people and the serious injury of a third person by dangerous driving.

HMA v Sean McGowan

Sep 7, 2020

At the High Court in Glasgow today, Lord Matthews sentenced Sean McGowan to 8 years and 3 months imprisonment after the offender pleaded guilty to rape.

HMA v Daniel McIntosh

Aug 27, 2020

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Lord Fairley sentenced Daniel McIntosh to 5 years imprisonment after the accused pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug diamorphine.

HMA v Robert Horne

Aug 24, 2020

At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lord Uist sentenced Robert Horne to six years’ imprisonment after the offender was convicted of sexual abuse towards children.

HMA v Scottish Water

Aug 18, 2020

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court today Sheriff Robert D M Fife imposed a fine of £140,000 on Scottish Water after the organisation pleaded guilty to a contravention of Regulation 3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, when an employee fell through an insecure floor into a storm channel when he was attempting to regulate water flow within the screen well area of the Prestonpans Pumping Station, to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and the danger of his life.

HMA v Derek Lincoln or Birks, also known as John Green

Aug 7, 2020

At the High Court in Glasgow today Lord Matthews sentenced Derek Lincoln or Birks, also known as John Green to 11 years and 6 months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to child abuse.

HMA v Craig Derrick, Brian Laing & David Till

Aug 6, 2020

At the High Court in Glasgow today, Lord Matthews imposed extended sentences on three prisoners after they pleaded guilty to the culpable homicide of another prisoner.

HMA v Gary McInally and Stephen Owen Cairns

Aug 5, 2020

At the High Court in Glasgow today (5 August 2020), Lord Matthews sentenced Gary McInally and Stephen Owen Cairns to terms of imprisonment after the offenders pleaded guilty to forcing their way into a flat armed with knives and assaulting occupants.