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 Sam Atkins

Jan 22, 2024

At the High Court in Glasgow today, Lord Clark sentenced Sam Atkins to life imprisonment with a minimum period of 18 years. Atkins had previously admitted charges of murder and assault.

HMA v Sarah McDermott, Margaret Hughes and Eileen Igoe

Jan 18, 2024

At Airdrie Sheriff Court today, Sheriff Scott Pattison sentenced each of the accused, Sarah McDermott, Margaret Hughes and Eileen Igoe to 3 years in prison. All three had been found guilty of historic charges of child cruelty whilst in a position of trust.

HMA v Robert O'Brien and Andrew Kelly

Jan 15, 2024

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Braid sentenced Robert O'Brien and Andrew Kelly to life imprisonment after they were convicted of murder. The punishment part, the minimum time they must spend in prison before being eligible for parole, was set at 22 years for Robert O'Brien and 18 years for Andrew Kelly.

HMA v Mark Thompson

Jan 12, 2024

At the High Court in Edinburgh Lady Poole sentenced Mark Thompson to 8 years imprisonment after the offender was convicted of sexually abusing three boys over a period of 15 years.

HMA v James Henderson

Jan 12, 2024

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Haldane sentenced James Henderson to an extended sentence of 18 years after he was found guilty of three charges of rape and a further charge of attempted rape. The sentence includes a 14 year custodial period and a 4 year extension at licence in the community. The offender has been banned from contacting the complainers and has been added to the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

HMA v Keith John Stevenson

Jan 11, 2024

At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lord Arthurson sentenced Keith John Stevenson to 12 years in prison for attempted murder.

HMA v Jessie Hunter

Jan 10, 2024

At Dunoon Sheriff Court, Sheriff Nicola Patrick fined Jessie Hunter £2075 after the offender pled guilty to causing death by careless driving. She was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for life

HMA v Craig Kenneth Elwood

Jan 10, 2024

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Sheriff Iain Nicol imposed an extended sentence of 6 years on Craig Kenneth Elwood after the offender pled guilty to assault to injury and robbery and assault to severe injury.

HMA v Kenneth Quinn

Jan 10, 2024

At the High Court in Kilmarnock, Lady Stacey sentenced Kenneth Quinn to 15 years imprisonment after the accused was convicted of multiple charges including assault, rape, assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement as well as threatening and abusive behaviour.

HMA v Dean Ferguson

Jan 8, 2024

At the High Court in Glasgow today, Lord Clark sentenced Dean Ferguson to 6 years and 4 months in prison. The offender had previously pled guilty to the culpable homicide of Billy Jo Bates.

HMA v Steven Black, Robert Turkiewicz and Lee Johnston

Dec 21, 2023

At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Brown sentenced Steven Black, Robert Turkiewicz and Lee Johnston to respective prison terms of 9 years, 27 months and 27 months after the three admitted drug related offences.

HMA v Dawid Zywicki

Dec 19, 2023

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Scott sentenced Dawid Zywicki to 9 years imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

HMA v Steffan Cox

Dec 13, 2023

At the High Court in Glasgow today, Lord Young sentenced Steffan Cox to 12 years and 9 months in prison, with a further 3 year extension period on licence in the community. The offender had been convicted of three charges of rape and other sexual offences. He will be subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely and is also subject to non-harassment orders.

HMA v David Barnes

Dec 13, 2023

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Mulholland sentenced David Barnes to life in prison for the murder of Ian Coutts. Barnes must serve a minimum of 23 years before being eligible for parole.

PF Edinburgh v Zola Affley or McGoldrick

Dec 12, 2023

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court today, Sheriff R W Flinn imposed a 6-month custodial sentence on Zola Affley or McGoldrick. A trial had previously found the offender to be guilty of fraud.

HMA v Ryan Hush

Dec 11, 2023

At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lady Poole sentenced Ryan Hush to four years imprisonment after the offender was convicted of one charge of rape.

HMA v Derek Alland

Dec 11, 2023

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Poole imposed an extended sentence of 9 years on Derek Alland after the offender pled guilty to assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger of life. Lady Poole sentenced Derek Alland to a further 8 months imprisonment for assaulting a police officer.

HMA v Kris Clark

Dec 8, 2023

At the High Court in Livingston today, Lord Arthurson imposed a 15 years extended sentence on Kris Clark. The offender had been convicted of a series of sexual offences, including rape and coercion, and will serve a custodial period of 10 years with a further 5 at licence in the community.

HMA v Ben Moss

Dec 7, 2023

At the High Court in Edinburgh Lady Haldane imposed an extended sentence of 13 years and 3 months on Ben Moss after he pled guilty to 20 serious crimes covering a broad range of offences including threatening and abusive behaviour, assault, sexual assault, sending indecent images and rape. The custodial part will be 8 years and 3 months with an extension period of 5 years to be served in the community.

HMA v Colin McGhee

Nov 30, 2023

At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lord Scott sentenced Colin McGhee to 5 years and 10 months in prison after the offender admitted endangering the lives of the occupants of a block of flats through wilful fireraising.

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