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 Rapuala Ahmadze

Dec 23, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Welsh KC imposed a 9-year prison term on Rapuala Ahmadze. Following a trial, the offender was found guilty of several charges including rape. Ahmadze has been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.

HMA v Regan Shearer & Joshua Findlay

Dec 22, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Drummond imposed a prison sentence of 4 years on Joshua Findlay after the offender pled guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and other motoring offences. Findlay has also been disqualified from driving for 8 years. Regan Shearer received a community payback order that includes 12 months supervision and 225 hours unpaid work, as well as a 12 month driving ban, after admitting charges relating to dangerous driving.

HMA v Tradstocks Westwood Ltd

Dec 19, 2025

At Livingston Sheriff Court, Sheriff Millar imposed a fine of £67,000 on Tradstocks Westwood Ltd plus an additional government subsidy of £5,025. The company pled guilty to health and safety failures that led to the death of its employee James Duncan Junior.

HMA v Liam McDonald & Dylan Haldane

Dec 18, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Norman McFadyen KC sentenced Liam McDonald to an extended sentence of 17 years and Dylan Haldane to an extended sentence of 16 years for the attempted murder of a shopkeeper in Ladymuir Crescent, Glasgow on 13 August 2023 and related offences.

HMA v Grant Hunter, Emma McVie & Gary Robertson

Dec 17, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Mulholland imposed a life sentence on Grant Hunter for the murder of Marc Webley. Hunter must serve a minimum of 26 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. Emma McVie was jailed for 4 years and 6 months and Gary Robertson received a prison term of 6 years and 6 months for crimes that include attempting to pervert the course of justice.

HMA v Sohail Ahmed

Dec 17, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Harrower imposed an order for lifelong restriction on Sohail Ahmed, after the offender was convicted of , indecent communication, abduction and rape and, abduction, rape and administering a substance for sexual purposes. The punishment part was set at 9 years.

HMA v David Epke

Dec 16, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh Judge Norman McFadyen KC sentenced David Epke, aged 23, to an order for lifelong restriction for offences of rape, two charges of sexual assault and breaches of bail curfews.

PF v Kevin Booth

Dec 11, 2025

At Wick Sheriff Court, Temporary Sheriff Principal MacDonald imposed a Community Payback Order which includes 2-years supervision on Kevin Booth. The offender was found guilty following a trial of a sexual offence by communicating indecently with another person. Booth must take part in a sex offenders rehabilitation course and pay compensation to the complainer. He is also added to the sex offenders register for 2 years.

HMA v Aaron David Hunter

Dec 9, 2025

At the High Court in Kilmarnock, Lord Harrower imposed a prison term of 7 years and 6 months on Aaron David Hunter. The offender was found guilty following a trial of charges of rape and sexual assault. Hunter has been added to the Sex Offenders’ Register and issued with non-harassment orders.

HMA v Arran Reid

Dec 9, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Scott imposed a prison sentence of 8 years and 4 months on Arran Reid. The accused pled guilty to assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and the danger of life and a separate charge of discharging a firearm. Both offences were aggravated by a connection with serious organised crime.

HMA v Barry Murray, Scott Henderson, Brian Miller and Carri Stewart

Dec 9, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow Lady Haldane sentenced Barry Murray, Scott Henderson, Brian Miller and Carri Stewart to life imprisonment with a punishment part of 20 years after they were convicted of murder.

HMA v Craig Allan Murray

Dec 9, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson imposed an extended sentence of 16 years on Craig Allan Murray after the offender pled guilty to assault to injury and robbery; a charge of theft; and a charge of attempted extortion by way of threats of setting fire to domestic property and of assault. The Custodial part was set at 7 years with an extension period of 9 years.

HMA v Christopher Parry

Dec 5, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Drummond sentenced Christopher Parry to 4 years Imprisonment, after the offender pled guilty to assault to injury and danger of life of a man, and assault to severe injury or injury to three other people and to driving whilst over the limit.

HMA v Tandy Swinton

Dec 5, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Harrower imposed an extended sentence on Tandy Swinton after the offender was convicted of Culpable homicide and attempted robbery. The custodial part was set at 81 months with a extension period of three years where they will be supervised in the community and subject to licence conditions.

HMA v Rodney Shaw

Dec 5, 2025

At the High Court in Aberdeen Judge Andrew Miller imposed a community payback order on Rodney Shaw after the offender was found guilty following a trial of culpable homicide. Mr Shaw will be required to complete 300 hours of unpaid work within a period of 12 months.

HMA v AB

Dec 4, 2025

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Harrower sentenced AB to 18 months’ imprisonment. The offender was found guilty of wilfully illtreating and indecent communications with a child under the age of 13. AB has also been added to the Sex Offenders register and issued with a non-harassment order.

HMA v Patricia Baxter

Dec 3, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Colbeck imposed a Probation Order on Patricia Baxter after the offender was convicted of cruelly and unnaturally treating 18 separate young girls and of causing each of them unnecessary suffering and injury to their health. The Probation Order includes a 12 month Restriction of Liberty Order, a 3 years Supervision Order and required to pay compensation to each of the victims.

HMA v Jamie McPharlane

Nov 27, 2025

At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Arrol KC imposed an extended sentence of 11 years on Jamie McPharlane. The offender was convicted of attempted murder involving a sharp instrument. The punishment part of the sentence sees McPharlane imprisoned for 8 years and with a further 3 years on licence in the community.

HMA v Steven Mitchell

Nov 26, 2025

At the High Court in Livingston, Judge Craig imposed an extended sentence of 13 years on Steven Mitchell after he was found guilty of offences including rape and sexual assault. The offender will serve a 10 year custodial term, with a further 3 years on licence in the community. Mitchell has been issued with non-harassment orders in relation to his victims and is added to the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

HMA v Gordon Telford

Nov 26, 2025

At Forfar Sheriff Court, Sheriff Ralph imposed a sentence of 200 hours of unpaid work and one year’s supervision on Gordon Telford. The offender admitted causing the death of Sheila Nicoll through careless driving. Telford has been banned from driving for 20 months.

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