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 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.

HMA v Peter Conoboy

Aug 4, 2020

At the High Court in Glasgow today Lord Matthews sentenced Peter Conoboy to 2 years and 3 months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to placing a suspicious package in the foyer of a multi-occupant residential building as a bomb hoax.

HMA v Gary Grimes

Jul 30, 2020

At the High Court in Glasgow today Lord Matthews sentenced Gary Grimes to 3 years and 9 months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to assaulting a man to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life.

HMA v DL

Jul 30, 2020

At the High Court in Glasgow today (29 July 2020) Lord Arthurson imposed an extended sentence of 12 years on DL, with a custodial term of detention of 5 years and an extension period of 7 years after he pleaded guilty to three charges of rape.

HMA v Matthew Donald Maltman known as Whyte

Jul 27, 2020

At the High Court in Glasgow today Judge Buchanan imposed an order for lifelong restriction with a punishment part of 5 years and 3 months on Matthew Donald Maltman (known as Whyte) after he pleaded guilty to presenting knives at his victims, threatening to kill them, detaining them against their will, robbing them and forcing them to engage in sexual activity with each other.

HMA v Peter Cannon

Jul 27, 2020

At the High Court in Glasgow today Judge Buchanan imposed an order for lifelong restriction with a punishment part of 4 years 10 months on Peter Cannon after he pleaded guilty to attempted murder.

HMA v Aaron Thomas James Hickman

Jul 27, 2020

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Lord Uist sentenced Aaron Thomas James Hickman to 3 years 9 months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to sexual assault and attempted rape.

HMA v William Robert Frank Gall

Jul 23, 2020

At the High Court in Glasgow today Lord Matthews sentenced William Robert Frank Gall to 3 years imprisonment and disqualified him from holding and obtaining a driving licence for 6 years and 6 months after he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

HMA v AE

Jul 21, 2020

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Lord Uist sentenced AE to 3 years 9 months detention after the accused pled guilty to rape and sexual and physical assault.

HMA v John Bain Johnstone

Jul 20, 2020

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Lord Fairley sentenced John Bain Johnstone to 32 months imprisonment and disqualified the accused from driving for 5 years and 4 months after he pled guilty to causing the death of Hanno Garbe by dangerous driving.

HMA v James Whitton Kerr

Jul 10, 2020

At the High Court in Glasgow today, Lord Matthews imposed an extended sentence on James Whitton Kerr of 13 years and 6 months with an extension period of 6 years after the offender pleaded guilty to a catalogue of sexual abuse and violent offending.