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 Paul Mowat
Mar 21, 2024
At Glasgow Sheriff Court today, Sheriff Matt Jackson sentenced Paul Mowat to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and banned him from driving for 12 months. Mowat had pled guilty to causing the death of Emma Burke Newman by careless driving.
HMA v Gary Yuill
Mar 21, 2024
At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lady Wise imposed and extended sentence of 16 years on Gary Yuill after the offender was convicted of multiple charges including rape, sexual assault and domestic abuse. Yuill will serve 12 years in prison with a further 4 years on licence in the community. He has also been issued with non-harrassment orders, added to the sex offenders register and included on the list of people unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups.
HMA v Barry Harvey, Thomas Guthrie and Darren Owen
Mar 20, 2024
At the High Court in Glasgow today, Barry Harvey, Thomas Guthrie and Darren Owen were sentenced on charges of murder and attempted murder. Harvey and Owen received life sentences with respective minimum incarceration periods of 29 and 22 years. For attempted murder, Guthrie had 8 years added to an existing prison term.
HMA V Steven Howie Nevitt
Mar 20, 2024
At the High Court in Glasgow today, Lord Arthurson sentenced Steven Howie Nevitt to 6 years and 9 months imprisonment. The offender had pled guilty to historic charges of child rape.
HMA v Lawrence Barbiers Russell Jr
Mar 19, 2024
At Edinburgh Sheriff Court today, Sheriff Alison Stirling sentenced Lawrence Russell Jr to 10 months imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to reporting for duty as a pilot at Edinburgh Airport while exceeding the prescribed blood alcohol limit.
HMA v Benjamin Young
Mar 19, 2024
At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lord Arthurson imposed an Order for Life Long Restriction on Benjamin Young, after the offender pled guilty to 32 charges including the sexual abuse and rape of children.
HMA v Peter Duffy
Mar 15, 2024
At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lord Scott sentenced Peter Duffy to life imprisonment for the murders of Emma Baillie and John Paul Duffy. Peter Duffy must serve a minimum period in prison of 30 years before he may be eligible for parole.
HMA v Paul McFadyen
Mar 13, 2024
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Poole imposed an extended sentence of 9 years on Paul McFadyen. The offender will spend 6 years in prison, with a 3 year extension on licence in the community after being convicted of historic sex offences. He has been added to the sex offenders register and added to the list of people unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups.
HMA v Colin Jackson & Connor McDougall
Mar 12, 2024
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Harrower sentenced Colin Jackson & Connor McDougall for abduction, detention and serious assault. The pair received extended sentences of 10 years, this includes a 7 year custodial term and 3 years on licence in the community.
HMA v Stacey Archibald & Christopher McTaggart
Mar 12, 2024
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Weir imposed extended sentences of 13 and 16 years respectively on Stacey Archibald and Christopher McTaggart. Both had been found guilty of three charges of attempted murder and a further charge of culpable and reckless conduct. Archibald will spend 8 years in prison and a further 5 years on licence in the community. McTaggart must serve a prison term of 11 years and 5 years on licence.
HMA v James Thomson
Mar 8, 2024
On 9 February 2024 at a preliminary hearing James Thomson pled guilty to an assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment, and to a contravention of section 49(1) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) Act 1995. On 9 March 2024 at the High Court of Justiciary at Edinburgh Lord Doherty sentenced him to an extended sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment for the assault, made up of a custodial term of 4 years and an extension period of 3 years, and to a further 6 months’ imprisonment for the contravention of section 49(1). He also made an order for his return to prison to serve 450 days of the unexpired portion of an earlier sentence, with that period being served before and being followed by the sentences of imprisonment for the new offences.
HMA v Kevin Suttie
Mar 7, 2024
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Tyre sentenced Kevin Suttie to three years in prison after the offender was convicted of two historic sexual abuse charges.
HMA v George Watt
Mar 7, 2024
At a preliminary hearing on 8 February 2024 George Watt pled guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm contrary to section 5(1)(aba) of the Firearms Act 1968. On 7 March 2024 at the High Court of Justiciary at Edinburgh Lord Doherty sentenced him to 5 years’ imprisonment.
HMA v Maria Gardiner, Michael Anderson and James Houston
Mar 4, 2024
At the High Court in Glasgow today, Maria Gardiner, Michael Anderson and James Houston received lifetime prison sentences for the murder of Brian Maley. Lord Fairley imposed a minimum incarceration period of 18 years on Gardiner and Anderson, and 18 years, 6 months for Houston.
HMA v Iain Packer
Feb 28, 2024
At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Beckett sentenced Iain Packer to life imprisonment with a punishment part of 36 years after the offender was convicted of the murder of Emma Caldwell and 32 other serious offences.
HMA v Grant Shanks
Feb 23, 2024
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Poole imposed an extended sentence of 9 years on Grant Shanks. The sentence comprises a custodial period of 7 years, with a further 2 years on licence in the community. Shanks had been found guilty of charges relating to domestic abuse and stalking. He also admitted disclosing an intimate photograph. He has been issued with non-harassment orders, added to the Sex Offenders Register and placed on the list of people unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups.
HMA v Illir Kasa
Feb 21, 2024
At the High Court in Stirling today, Judge Craig sentenced Illir Kasa to 8 years in prison. Kasa had been found guilty of charges relating to the production of cannabis with an aggravation relating to his involvement in serious organised crime.
HMA v Michael Beaton & Dylan John Dunlop
Feb 16, 2024
At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lord Ericht jailed Michael Beaton and Dylan John Dunlop for their involvement in dealing class A drugs. The conviction included a serious organised crime aggravation. Beaton received a sentence of 5 years & 219 days. Dunlop was handed a sentence of 3 years & 4 months. Beaton received an additional consecutive sentence of 4 months for assaulting police officers.
HMA v Ciaran Dickson
Feb 16, 2024
At the High court in Glasgow, Lord Colbeck sentenced Ciaran Dickson to 6 years in prison for causing the death of Aidan Pilkington by dangerous driving whilst under the influence of alcohol. Dickson has also been banned from driving for 9 years and will be required to sit an extended driving test.
HMA v Martin Black
Feb 9, 2024
On 9 February 2024 at a Preliminary Hearing at the High Court of Justiciary at Glasgow Martin Black pled guilty to contraventions of sections 5(1)(a), 1(1)(b), and 21(1) and 21(4) of the Firearms Act 1968 and to two contraventions of section 2(1) of the Air Weapons and Licensing Act 2015. Lord Doherty sentenced him to 9 years’ imprisonment.