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.

Read more about civil judgments.

HMA v Ramsay Stevenson

Jan 9, 2020

At the High Court in Glasgow today (9 January 2020), Lord Matthews sentenced Ramsay Stevenson to 5 years imprisonment and disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driving licence for a period of 11 years and 6 months after he pled guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

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HMA v Lewis Reid

Jan 7, 2020

At the High Court in Edinburgh today (7 January 2020) Lord Arthurson sentenced Lewis Reid to 6 years and 6 months imprisonment and he was disqualified from driving for 9 years after the offender pled guilty to 22 charges involving offences including reset, dangerous driving and the supply of a Class A controlled drug.

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