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 Felix Winter

Jul 30, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow Lord Arthurson sentenced Felix Winter to 6 years detention after the offender pled guilty to breach of the peace, with an accompanying racial aggravation, and a separate but related offence under section 58(1)(a) and (b) of the Terrorism Act 2000.

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HMA v Walter Masocha

Jul 28, 2025

At the High Court in Livingston, Judge Craig sentenced Walter Masocha to an extended sentence after the offender was convicted of attempted rape and sexual assault. The custodial term was set at 10 years, with an extension period under supervision in the community for four years on release.

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HMA v Gary Morris

Jul 25, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Pattison sentenced Gary Morris to 12 years' imprisonment after the offender was convicted of numerous rapes and sexual assaults. Morris was also made subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (placed on the sex offenders register) indefinitely.

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HMA v John Irving

Jul 25, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Harrower sentenced John Irving to 5 years and 3 months' imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to assault with a knife to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger of life.

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HMA v Corey Dryden

Jul 24, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Harrower sentenced Corey Dryden to life imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to murder. The punishment part of the sentence, the time which must be spent in custody before parole is considered, was set at 18 years.

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HMA v Amanda Welsh, Conor Thomas and Laura McHugh

Jul 23, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow Lord Matthews sentenced Amanda Welsh, Conor Thomas and Laura McHugh to life imprisonment after they were convicted of murder. The punishment parts were fixed at 17 years and 6 months for Amanda Welsh, 18 years and 3 months for Conor Thomas and 17 years for Laura McHugh

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HMA v Brandon Waterson

Jul 23, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Harrower sentenced Brandon Waterson to 6 years and 6 months imprisonment after the offender was found guilty of a single charge of, over a two year period, engaging in a course of behaviour that was abusive of his then partner.

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PF v Attiya Sheikh & Omer Sheikh

Jul 18, 2025

At Paisley Sheriff Court, Sheriff Sukhwinder Kaur Gill sentenced Attiya Sheikh & Omer Sheikh to 10 months' imprisonment after they each pled guilty to the reset of NHS personal protective equipment (PPE).

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HMA v Michael Harvey

Jul 18, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Colbeck sentenced Michael Harvey to 9 years imprisonment after the offender was convicted of attempted murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

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HMA v Ewen Methven

Jul 14, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow today, Lord Matthews sentenced Ewen Methven to life imprisonment for the murder of Phoenix Spencer-Horn. Methven must serve a minimum period of 23 years before he can be considered for parole.

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HMA v Russell Conn

Jul 10, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow Judge Young sentenced Russell Conn to 7 years imprisonment, to run consecutively with the 9 year sentence he is currently serving. Russel Conn was convicted of four charges of sexual offending.

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HMA v Michael Day

Jul 10, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh Lord Harrower sentenced Michael Day to life imprisonment with a punishment part of 20 years, after the offender was convicted of murder and attempted murder.

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HMA v Steven Agnew

Jul 8, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow Judge Arrol KC imposed an extended sentence of 9 years on Steven Agnew after the offender was convicted of 2 charges of rape and 1 charge of sexual assault. The extended sentence comprises a period of 7 years detention with an extended period of 2 years to be served in the community.

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HMA v Stephen Doohan

Jul 7, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow Lord Colbeck sentenced Stephen Doohan to 10 years and 6 months imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to assault to injury, sexual assault and procuring an abortion.

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HMA v Robert Paterson, Sean McGregor and Donald Stone

Jul 3, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Harrower sentenced Robert Paterson, Sean McGregor and Donald Stone to imprisonment for their involvement in serious organised crime. Paterson was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months' imprisonment, McGregor was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment, and Stone was sentenced to 65 months' imprisonment.

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HMA v Ramay Russell & Marcus Winston Clarke

Jul 2, 2025

At the High Court in Aberdeen, Judge Miller sentenced Ramay Russell and Marcus Winston Clarke to extended sentences for their parts in a violent incident. Russell was convicted of assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger of life and received a custodial term of 4 years and 6 months and an extension period of 2 years. Clarke was convicted of attempted murder and received a custodial term of 8 years and an extension period of 2 years.

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HMA v 3B Construction Ltd

Jul 1, 2025

At Tain Sheriff Court, Sheriff Wilson sentenced 3B Construction Ltd to a fine of £40,000 after the company pled guilty to a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

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HMA v XY

Jul 1, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson sentenced XY (a 17-year-old) to 6 years and 6 months' detention after the offender pled guilty to the culpable homicide of Scott Mitchell.

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HMA v William Bain

Jun 30, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Young sentenced William Bain to 9 years' imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to 11 charges involving the sexual abuse of children. Bain was made subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (placed on the sex offenders register) indefinitely.

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HMA v Riley Kirk

Jun 30, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Harrower sentenced Riley Kirk to an extended sentence after the offender was convicted of six charges involving rape and sexual assault. The custodial term was set at 8 years and the extension period was set at 3 years.

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