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 Darren Paton

May 12, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Scott sentenced Darren Paton to 12 years' imprisonment for the sexual abuse of two children. Paton was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

HMA v Marwan Al Bakr

May 12, 2025

At the High Court in Stirling, Judge Farquharson sentenced Marwan Al Bakr to an extended sentence after the offender was convicted of rape. Al Bakr was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

HMA v Connor McManus

May 9, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Harrower imposed a 12 year extended sentence on Connor McManus after the offender was convicted of nine charges against three women, including assault, rape and sexual assault. The custodial part was set at 9 years, with a 3 year extension period.

HMA v XY

May 8, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Mulholland sentenced XY (a 14-year-old) to 5 years' detention after the offender pled guilty to culpable homicide of Kory McCrimmon.

HMA v Craig Neill

May 7, 2025

At the High Court in Livingston, Judge Craig sentenced Craig Neill to an extended sentence after he was convicted of engaging in a course of coercive and abusive behaviour, sexual assault and rape. The custodial term was set at 9 years and 325 days and the extension period, the time spent under supervision in the community on release, was set at 3 years.

HMA v Dionne Christie

May 7, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lady Poole sentenced Dionne Christie to 8 years and 6 months' imprisonment after the offender was convicted of culpable homicide.

HMA v John Robertson

May 2, 2025

At the High Court in Livingston, Judge Craig sentenced John Robertson to an extended sentence of 9 years after he was convicted of engaging in a course of abusive behaviour including verbal, physical and sexual abuse. The custodial term was set at 7 years and the extension period was set at 2 years.

HMA v Kevin Owen Gillon Ferguson

Apr 30, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson sentenced Kevin Owen Gillon Ferguson to an Order for Lifelong Restriction after the offender pled guilty to sexual assault, rape and attempted rape. The punishment part, the time which must be spent in prison before parole is considered, was set at 5 years. Ferguson was also made subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (placed on the sex offenders register) indefinitely.

HMA v Steven Lawson & Scott McSeveney

Apr 25, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Colbeck sentenced Steven Lawson to 5 years' imprisonment after he was convicted of being involved in serious organised crime. His co-accused, Scott McSeveney, was sentenced to 8 years and 2 months' imprisonment after he pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

HMA v Steven Black

Apr 25, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Drummond sentenced Steven Black to an extended sentence after he pled guilty to attempted murder. The custodial term was set at 6 years and the extension period was set at 3 years.

HMA v Andrew Dewar-McCabe

Apr 24, 2025

At Dundee Sheriff Court, Sheriff Martin-Brown imposed a Community Payback Order in the amount of 150 hours within 12 months on Andrew Dewar-McCabe, after the offender was convicted of causing death by careless driving. Mr Dewar-McCabe was also disqualified from driving for a period of 18 months.

HMA v Antonjo Selami

Apr 23, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Doherty sentenced Antonjo Selami to 3 years and 9 months' imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to producing cannabis.

HMA v Bradley Aitken

Apr 23, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Drummond sentenced Bradley Aitken to an extended sentence after he pled guilty to attempted murder. The custodial term was set at 8 years and 3 months, while the extension period was set at 3 years.

HMA v Darren McDade

Apr 22, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Scott sentenced Darren McDade to 8 years' imprisonment after he was convicted of the culpable homicide of Kyle Zybilowicz.

HMA v Dawid Tadeusz Majewic

Apr 22, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Scott sentenced Dawid Tadeusz Majewic to an extended sentence for the culpable homicide of Jacek Dembinksi. The custodial term was set at 5 years and 4 months, while the extension period was set at 2 years and 8 months.

HMA V James McCall

Apr 17, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Colbeck imposed an extended sentence of 17 years on James McCall after the offender was convicted of nine separate charges, comprising four of rape; two of assault; one under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018; and two of threatening and abusive behaviour. The Custodial term was set at 12 years with an Extension period of 5 years.

HMA v Kristopher Purvis

Apr 16, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Summers sentenced Kristopher Purvis to 10 years' imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of the ban on importing controlled drugs.

HMA v Liam Maloney

Apr 16, 2025

At the High Court in Stirling, Lord Harrower sentenced Liam Maloney to 30 months' imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Maloney will also be subject to a supervised release order for 12 months on his release.

HMA v Alec Fallon, Lauren Neary, AB and Robert Faulds

Apr 11, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson sentenced Alec Fallon, Lauren Neary, AB (name anonymised due to age) and Robert Faulds to periods of detention for their parts in an attack on an off-duty police officer. Fallon and AB pled guilty to assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and danger of life. Neary and Faulds pled guilty to assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment, danger of life and attempted murder. They were sentenced as follows: Fallon - 4 years' detention; Neary - 6 years' detention; AB - 30 months' detention; Faulds - extended sentence of 11 years, with the custodial part set at 8 years' detention and the extension part set at 3 years.

HMA v Steven Greig

Apr 10, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Drummond sentenced Steven Grieg to life imprisonment after he was convicted of the murder of Mark Ward. The punishment part, the time which must be spent in prison before parole is considered, was set at 16 years.

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