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.
Follow us if you wish to receive alerts as soon as statements are published.
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 Andrew Anderson
Oct 3, 2024
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Matthews sentenced Andrew Anderson to an Order for Lifelong Restriction after the offender was convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl with intent to rape. The punishment part, the minimum time spent in prison before parole can be considered, was set at 3 years.
HMA v James Stevenson, David Bilsland, Lloyd Cross, Gerard Carbin, Paul Bowes & Ryan McPhee
Oct 2, 2024
At the High Court in Glasgow , Lord Ericht sentenced James Stevenson to 20 years' imprisonment after the offender was convicted of directing others in the importation and supply of cocaine and being involved in serious organised crime through the production and supply of etizolam. David Bilsland was sentenced to 6 years' imprisonment for being concerned in the importation of cocaine, Lloyd Cross was sentenced to 6 years' imprisonment for being concerned in the importation of cocaine, Gerard Carbin was sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment for being concerned in the production and supply of etizolam, Paul Bowes was sentenced to 6 years' imprisonment for being concerned in the production and supply of etizolam, and Ryan McPhee was sentenced to 4 years' imprisonment for being concerned in the production and supply of etizolam.
HMA v Sam Barber
Oct 2, 2024
At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson sentenced Sam Barber to 5 years imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. Mr Barber was also disqualified from driving for 12 years and 6 months.
HMA v John Higgins
Sep 25, 2024
At the High Court in Glasgow, Lady Haldane sentenced John Higgins to life imprisonment for the murder of Amanda McAlear. Higgins must serve a minimum period of 19 years before he can be considered for parole.
HMA v Derek Moore & Julie Ann McQuade
Sep 24, 2024
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Young imposed a sentence of 13 years and 6 months on Derek Moore. The offender admitted charges including fraud, possession of a firearm and being involved in the supply of drugs. Co-accused Julie Ann McQuade received a 30 month sentence after admitting one charge of fraud.
HMA v Alexander Hunter
Sep 19, 2024
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Ross imposed a 12 years extended sentence on Alexander Hunter after the offender was convicted of the serious sexual abuse, including rape, of two people who were children at the time. The custodial term was set at 9 years with a three year extension period
HMA v Ian McMillan Cowan
Sep 16, 2024
At Stranraer Sheriff Court, Sheriff Anthony McGlennan imposed a 42-month prison sentence on Ian McMillan Cowan. The offender pled guilty to several charges of sexual offences against children. He has been added to the Sex Offenders Register, and issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and Non-harassment Orders towards his victims.
HMA v Adele Rennie
Sep 13, 2024
At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court today, Sheriff Patrick sentenced Adele Rennie to 28 months imprisonment. Rennie had pled guilty to online stalking and other offences. Rennie has been issued with non-harassment orders and added to the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
HMA v Kyle Beveridge
Sep 11, 2024
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Armstrong sentenced Kyle Beveridge to an extended sentence of 16 years after the offender was convicted of seven charges including threatening and abusive behaviour, domestic abuse, and rape . The custodial part was set at 12 years, while the extension period was set at four years.
HMA v Kimberley Ann Dow
Sep 10, 2024
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Ross sentenced Kimberley Ann Dow to eight years and six months' imprisonment after the offender was convicted of attempted murder.
HMA v Jamie Morrison and Chloe Arnott
Sep 5, 2024
At the High Court in Stirling, Judge Tait sentenced Jamie Morrison and Chloe Arnott to imprisonment after they pled guilty to wilful fire-raising to the danger of life. Morrison was sentenced to 64 months' imprisonment and Arnott was sentenced to 52 months' imprisonment.
HMA v Mark John Michael Mason and Wendy Marie Mason
Sep 3, 2024
At Dumfries Sheriff Court, Sheriff Kevin McCallum KC sentenced Mark John Michael Mason to 34 months' imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to a number of offences involving indecent images of children and extreme pornographic images, and communicating indecently with children. Wendy Marie Mason was also sentenced to a community payback order comprising 300 hours of unpaid work and supervision and a restriction of liberty order for offences involving indecent images of children and extreme pornographic images.
HMA v Martin Bridge
Sep 3, 2024
At Wick Sheriff Court Sheriff Neil Wilson imposed a three year Community Payback Order on Martin Bridges, after the offender pled guilty to four charges of libelling sexualised online communications with people he believed to be children. The Community Payback Order comprises a Supervision Requirement, Conduct Requirement and 300 hours of unpaid work.
HMA v Cheyenne Baptiste Naeb
Aug 30, 2024
At Glasgow Sheriff Court today, Sheriff John N. McCormick sentenced Cheyenne Baptiste Naeb to 20 months imprisonment. The offender had admitted seriously assaulting a railway worker and endangering her life.
HMA v Mohamad Sabbagh
Aug 28, 2024
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Ross sentenced Mohamad Sabbagh to seven years' imprisonment after he was convicted of rape. Sabbagh was also made subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (sex offenders register) for an indefinite period.
HMA v William Henry Parsons
Aug 27, 2024
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Young imposed an 18-month prison sentence on William Parsons after he pled guilty to sexual assault. The offender has also been added to the sex offenders' register and issued with non-harassment orders.
HMA v Paul Douglas Shrubsole
Aug 21, 2024
At the High Court in Glasgow today, Lord Arthurson sentenced Paul Shrubsole to a 2-year Community Payback Order with 300 hours of unpaid work and banned him from driving for 5 years. Shrubsole had been found guilty of causing death and serious injury by careless driving.
HMA v Christopher Ferguson
Aug 21, 2024
At Hamilton Sheriff Court, Sheriff Linda Nicolson sentenced Christopher Ferguson to 3 years and 9 months' imprisonment after he was convicted of several charges including assaults and sexual offences. Ferguson was also made subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (sex offenders register) for a period of 10 years.
HMA v Esayas Neguse
Aug 20, 2024
At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Colbeck sentenced Esayas Neguse to an extended sentence of 16 years after the offender pled guilty to attempted murder, assault, possession of a knife, and behaving in a threatening and abusive manner. The custodial term was set at 11 years, with the extension period under supervision in the community set at 5 years.
HMA v Stuart Bretherton, Eva Simmons, Calum Lacy, Erica Hygate and Sumaya Javaid
Aug 20, 2024
At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Sheriff John N. McCormick sentenced Stuart Bretherton, Eva Simmons and Calum Lacy to 12 months' imprisonment after they each pled guilty to a breach of the peace. Erica Hygate was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment after she pled guilty to a breach of the peace and damaging property. Sumaya Javaid was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment after she pled guilty to a breach of the peace, damaging property and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.