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 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.

HMA v Jake Loy

Aug 19, 2024

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Harrower sentenced Jake Loy to 4 years and 8 months' imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. Loy was also disqualified from driving for 8 years.

HMA v Mohammed Akram

Aug 19, 2024

At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Gillian Wade KC sentenced Mohammed Akram to an Order for Lifelong Restriction after the offender was convicted of 9 charges involving serious sexual and physical abuse. The punishment part of the sentence, the minimum time served in prison before parole is considered, was set at 5 years.

HMA v Colin Bandeen

Aug 16, 2024

At the High Court in Kilmarnock, Lord Cubie impose an extended sentence of 13 years and 9 months on Colin Bandeen after he was convicted of 12 separate charges including lewd indecent or libidinous behaviour, indecent assaults and sexual assaults. The custodial term was set at 11 years and nine months, with an extension period of two years under supervision in the community.

HMA v HC-One Limited

Aug 15, 2024

At Glasgow Sheriff Court today, Sheriff M D Jackson KC fined HC-One Limited £500,000 after the company admitted failures that led to the death of Carol Hughes, a resident at the company’s Arcadia Gardens Care Home.

HMA v Salvatore Lupi

Aug 13, 2024

At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lord Colbeck sentenced Salvatore Lupi to 5 years’ imprisonment. The offender had previously pled guilty to possession of nine firearms and ammunition without the required certification.

HMA v David Cairney

Aug 9, 2024

At the High Court in Dundee, Lady Drummond imposed an extended sentence of 13 and a half years on David Cairney, after he pled guilty to attempted murder. The extended sentence comprises a custodial term of 10 and a half years with an extension period of 3 years.

HMA v Grampian Health Board

Aug 8, 2024

At Aberdeen Sheriff Court today, Sheriff Morag McLaughlin fined Grampian Health Board £60,000, with an added victim surcharge of £4,500. The health board had admitted failures that led to the death of a patient in its care.

HMA v Colin Kennedy

Aug 7, 2024

At the High Court in Glasgow today, Lord Arthurson sentenced Colin Kennedy to life imprisonment for the murder of Catherine Stewart. The offender was unanimously found guilty by a jury and will serve a minimum period of 25 years before being eligible to apply for parole.

HMA v Slawomir Stiller

Aug 6, 2024

At Inverness Sheriff Court, Sheriff Sara Matheson sentenced Slawomir Stiller to 28 months' imprisonment after he pled guilty to drink driving, dangerous driving, assault, and threatening and abusive behaviour. The offender was also disqualified from driving for 9 years and 2 months.

HMA v Peter McCormick

Aug 6, 2024

At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Brown sentenced Peter McCormick to five years' imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to four charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices.

HMA v Ruaridh Levey

Jul 31, 2024

At the High Court in Glasgow today, Lord Ericht sentenced Ruaridh Levey to life imprisonment after the offender was convicted of murder. The punishment part, the time which the offender must spend in custody before being considered for parole, was set at 18 years.

HMA v Barry Allan Shankly

Jul 25, 2024

At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Kevin McCallum KC imposed an extended 14 year sentence, with a 13 year custodial term and 1 year extension, on Barry Shankly. The offender had been found guilty after a trial of pushing his victim over a banister and falling to her severe injury, permanent impairment and to the danger of her life, as well as other domestic abuse charges. He has also been issued with indefinite non-harassment orders.

HMA v Barry Thomas Marshall

Jul 25, 2024

At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lady Poole sentenced Barry Thomas Marshall to 10 years’ imprisonment after the offender was convicted of attempted murder and robbery.

HMA v Hayley Matthews

Jul 25, 2024

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court today, Sheriff Alison Stirling imprisoned Hayley Matthews for 2 years and 3 months. The offender had previously pled guilty to embezzling £120,000 over a 3 year period.

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