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 Jason Smith, Calum Simpson, David Simpson and Jamies Lowrie

Nov 11, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Scott sentenced offenders for various charges in connection with serious organised crime. Jason Smith was given a 9 years and 9 month extended sentence. He will spend 6 years and 9 months in prison, with a 3-year license period in the community. Calum Simpson was sentenced to 7 years and 7 months imprisonment. David Simpson was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months imprisonment. James Lowrie was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months imprisonment. The sentence for George Baigrie was deferred.

PF v Claire Bellamy

Nov 10, 2026

At Paisley Sheriff Court, Sheriff Gill imposed a Community Payback Order on Claire Bellamy, after the offender was found guilty of deliberately hunting a fox using dogs. She was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work, and has been banned from keeping dogs - excluding terriers and collies - for ten years.

HMA v Tammy Kerr

Nov 10, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Harrower imposed a 16-month prison term on Tammy Kerr. The offender pled guilty to assault and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.

HMA v Robert Barr, Sean Favier & Iain Doyle

Nov 10, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Cubie imposed prison sentences on Robert Barr, Sean Favier and Iain Doyle. All three pled guilty to being involved in serious organised crime and attempting to steal £2million of cryptocurrency. Barr was sentenced to 8-years imprisonment, Favier received a 4-year term and Doyle 5-years.

HMA v Amanda Mathewson

Nov 6, 2026

At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, Sheriff MacRitchie sentenced Amanda Mathewson to two years imprisonment, after the offender pled guilty to a charge of neglecting, abandoning and exposing children in her care, as a registered childminder.

HMA v John Connor Callaghan

Nov 5, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson imposed a 10-year prison term on John Callaghan. The offender pled guilty to 29 charges that included theft, housebreaking, weapons, drugs and road traffic offences.

HMA v James Stewart

Nov 3, 2026

At the High Court in Inverness, Judge Pasportnikov imposed an extended sentence of 11 years and six months on James Stewart, after the offender was convicted of sexual offences. The custodial part was set at nine years and six months, with two years to be spent in the community.

HMA v Derek McNee

Nov 2, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Young imposed an eight and a half years extended sentence on Derek McNee after the offender pled guilty to sexual offences, domestic abuse and a firearms offence. The custodial term was set at seven years, with an 18 month extension period.

HMA v Anthony Carroll Senior, Anthony Carroll Junior, Ryan Carberry, Marc Cooper and Michael Monaghan

Oct 30, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Scott sentenced Anthony Carroll Senior 4 years 6 months imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to a single charge of directing others to commit money laundering. Lord Scott also imposed custodial sentences on Anthony Carroll Junior, Ryan Carberry, Marc Cooper and Michael Monaghan after they pled guilty to being involved in serious organised crime.

HMA V Scott Dragsness, Ben Stanex and Andrew Graham

Oct 28, 2026

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Sheriff Andrew McIntyre imposed custodial sentences on three people convicted of assault aggravated by religious prejudice. Scott Dragness was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, while Ben Stanex and Andrew Graham were sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. All three were given football banning orders for 7 years.

HMA v Robert Smith

Oct 28, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson sentenced Robert Smith to 12 years imprisonment, after the offender pled guilty to two charges including domestic abuse and assault.

HMA v Andrew McAdam

Oct 28, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Scott imposed a 14-year extended sentence on Andrew McAdam, after the offender pled guilty to 9 charges involving the sexual abuse and exploitation of young children. He will serve a custodial term of 10 years 6 months and an extension period of 3 years 6 months.

HMA v Graeme Ross Gate

Oct 27, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson sentenced Graeme Gate to 7 years and 6 months imprisonment, after the offender pled guilty to rape.

HMA v Marcus Sinclair

Oct 23, 2026

At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, Sheriff More sentenced Marcus Sinclair to 3 years imprisonment after the offender was convicted of engaging in a course of abusive behaviour towards his former partner. This was further aggravated by involving prejudice relating to race, colour, nationality, or ethnic or national origins.

HMA v William Kerrigan, Andrew Rennie and Lee Heron

Oct 23, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Scott imposed sentences on William Kerrigan, Andrew Rennie and Lee Heron. William Kerrigan was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to a charge of assaulting Darren Anderson to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life. Andrew Rennie was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to a charge of assaulting an unknown male. Lee Heron was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to a charge of dangerous driving. He was also disqualified from driving for 6 years and 7 and a half months.

HMA v Lewis Simpson

Oct 22, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge McCartney sentenced Lewis Simpson to 32 months imprisonment after the offender was found guilty of abusing a former partner.

HMA v Martin Gallacher

Oct 19, 2026

At Paisley Sheriff Court, Sheriff Eoin McGinty sentenced Martin Gallagher to four years' imprisonment following his conviction for sexual offences against pupils at the school where he was employed as a teacher.

HMA v Azeem Mohammed

Oct 16, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson sentenced Azeem Mohammed to 10 years imprisonment. The offender pled guilty to eight charges of fraud upon elderly and highly vulnerable people, totalling £1,163,269.

HMA v Campbell Petrie

Oct 16, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Alistair Watson imposed a 15-year extended sentence on Campbell Petrie. The offender was found guilty by a jury of sexual offences against two women. Petrie will serve a 12-year prison term and spend a further 3 years on licence in the community.

HMA v Martin Wilson

Oct 12, 2026

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson sentenced Martin Wilson to eight years imprisonment, after the offender pled guilty to a charge of assault to severe injury and danger to life and attempted murder.

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