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 James Galt

May 15, 2024

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Matthews sentenced James Galt to 4 years and 6 months imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and the danger of life.

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HMA v John Young

May 14, 2024

At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lady Haldane imposed a life sentence on John Young after he pled guilty to the murder of James Hynes. Young must serve a minimum punishment period of 15 years before he can be considered for release.

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HMA v Kunathilinghan Mohanthas

May 13, 2024

At the High Court in Kilmarnock today, Lord Clark sentenced Kunathilinghan Mohanthas to 7 years 6 months’ imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to a charge of culpable homicide. He has also been disqualified from driving for 13 years and 9 months and will be required to sit an extended test before being able to drive again.

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HMA v Connor Dow Wilson

May 7, 2024

At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lord Fairley sentenced Connor Dow Wilson to 4 years and 4 months in prison. Wilson had pled guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. He has been disqualified from driving for 8 years and 2 months and must sit an extended driving test.

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HMA v Aaron Swan

May 3, 2024

At the High Court in Inverness today, Lord Weir imposed an order for lifelong restriction on Aaron Swan. The offender had been found guilty of several charges, including rape and sexual assault. Swan must serve a minimum prison term of 6 years before being considered for parole. He has also been issued with non-harassment orders and added to the sex offenders’ register.

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HMA v Charles Donnelly

Apr 30, 2024

At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lady Carmichael imposed an extended sentence of 14 years on Charles Donnelly. Donnelly received a 9 year custodial term with a 5 year extension after pleading guilty to historic sexual offences against three victims.

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HMA v Scott Tullis

Apr 29, 2024

At the High Court in Livingston, Lord Young imposed an extended sentence of 13 years on Scott Tullis. The offender was guilty of sexual offences against three females. He will serve a 9 year prison sentence with a further 4 years on licence in the community. He has also been issued with non-harassment orders and placed on the sex offenders’ register.

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HMA v Adam Pentacost

Apr 29, 2024

Between 19 and 26 February 2024 at the High Court of Justiciary at Edinburgh Adam Pentacost stood trial on charges of contraventions of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and sexual offence charges. At the close of the Crown case he pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis and cocaine. The trial proceeded in relation to the sexual charges. On 26 February 2024 the jury convicted him of 5 sexual charges. On 29 April 2024 at the High Court of Justiciary at Edinburgh Lord Doherty sentenced him to 12 months’ imprisonment for a contravention of section 28 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 and to a cumulo extended sentence of 13 years’ imprisonment for 4 offences of rape and for the drugs offences, made up of a custodial term of 11 years and an extension period of 2 years.

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HMA v Kieron McKinlay Sullivan

Apr 26, 2024

At the High Court in Glasgow today, Lady Drummond imposed an order of lifelong restriction on Kieron McKinlay Sullivan after the offender pled guilty to sexual offences. Sullivan will serve a minimum punishment period of 18 months in prison.

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HMA v Craig Michael Watson

Apr 25, 2024

At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lady Poole sentenced Craig Michael Watson to 10 years’ imprisonment after the offender was found guilty of historic sex abuse charges against three boys and a vulnerable adolescent. Two months were added to the sentence for failure to attend an earlier court date.

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HMA v Sarah Blakeway, Jamie Thomson & Gary Thomson

Apr 23, 2024

At the High Court in Glasgow, Gary Thomson, Jamie Thomson and Sarah Blakeway were sentenced for assault and theft. Gary Thomson will serve 5 years and 4 months in prison and 3 years on licence in the community. Jamie Thomson will spend 3 years and 10 months in prison. Blakeway received a community payback order and was ordered to pay compensation.

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HMA v John Paul McLaughlan

Apr 22, 2024

On 22 April 2024 at a continued preliminary hearing at the High Court of Justiciary at Glasgow John Paul McLaughlan pled guilty to the murder of his partner. Lord Doherty sentenced him to life imprisonment with a punishment part of 17 years’ imprisonment.

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HMA V Donna Brand

Apr 22, 2024

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Braid sentenced Donna Brand to life Imprisonment after the offender was convicted of murder. Lord Braid set the punishment part at 17 years.

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HMA v Bernard Callaghan

Apr 17, 2024

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Poole imposed an extended sentenced of 12 years on Bernard Callaghan, after the offender was convicted of 10 charges of abuse against three different women. The custodial pat was set at 9 years with an extension period of 3 years.

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HMA v John Stewart Blyth

Apr 12, 2024

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Harrower sentenced John Blyth to life imprisonment after the offender was convicted of murder. Lord Harrower set the punishment part at 13 years.

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HMA v Amy Beck

Apr 10, 2024

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Fiona Tait sentenced Amy Beck to seven years imprisonment after the offender was convicted of being concerned in the supply of Mephedrone a class B drug over a three year period) and three charges of wilfully exposing children to controlled drugs in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to their health.

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HMA v Robert Brown

Apr 10, 2024

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Scott sentenced Robert Brown to 6 years imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

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HMA v Arran Swift

Apr 10, 2024

At the High Court in Dundee Lord Arthurson imposed an Order for Lifelong Restriction on Aaron Swift after the offender pled guitly to a contravention of section 1 of the Domestic Abuse Scotland Act 2018.

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HMA v Colin Thomson

Apr 10, 2024

On 13 March 2024 at the High Court of Justiciary at Edinburgh Colin Thomson was convicted after trial of a contravention of section 1 of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018. The court made a non-harassment order of indefinite duration prohibiting Mr Thomson from approaching or contacting the complainer, and it continued the matter of sentence to obtain reports. On 10 April 2024 at the High Court of Justiciary at Edinburgh Lord Doherty sentenced Mr Thomson to 42 months’ imprisonment. He also made non-harassment orders preventing him from contacting two children

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HMA v Jeffrey Binnie and William Hanratty

Apr 9, 2024

At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lord Scott imposed an extended sentence of 9 years on Jeffrey Binnie and William Hanratty, after they pled guilty to assault to injury and danger of life.

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