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 Jordan Convery

Jun 19, 2026

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Sheriff Kerr sentenced Jordan Convery to 38 months imprisonment after the offender pled guilty to threatening and abusive behaviour with a crossbow. He will also be subject to a supervision order for 12 months following his release.

Upon sentencing Sheriff Kerr made the following remarks:

"On 23^rd May 2025 you walked into the foyer of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in possession of a loaded crossbow. Your finger was observed to be on the trigger as you approached the entrance.

"Unsurprisingly that alarming act attracted some publicity.

"What the court has now learned is that your behaviour had been alarming for a number of hours beforehand. You had prevented members of your family from sleeping throughout the previous night while you followed them around the home in possession of the loaded crossbow. You had frightened them with threats that you were going to shoot down into the street with the crossbow or throw fireworks with nails attached into the street. They felt unsafe because of your threats.

"Later you walked along a number of streets in possession of the loaded crossbow. You engaged with at least two members of the public, as seen on CCTV viewed by the court.

"You arrived at the hospital and entered the exposed, open Atrium area. CCTV viewed by the court showed the area getting busy with members of staff and the public.

"Viewed objectively your conduct would cause a reasonable person the utmost fear and alarm.

"The agreed narrative states in terms that members of your family had genuine fear and alarm for their safety, fearing that you would use the crossbow against them.

"When you first appeared in court it was considered that there may be a psychiatric explanation for your conduct. During your remand that has been extensively explored. Any such explanation can now be discounted. Whilst you may have been experiencing a degree of stress brought on by external factors, you were not suffering from a psychiatric condition. You were aware of the wrongfulness of your conduct. I must sentence you accordingly.

"In deciding how to sentence you I of course have regard to all that has been said on your behalf, the terms of the psychiatric report available, and the terms of the social work report obtained. I have regard to your personal circumstances, the fact that you have only one previous conviction, and the terms of your letter presented to the court.

"I must impose a sentence which registers society’s disapproval of your conduct, and which will deter you and others from engaging in this type of conduct. I also have regard to the need to protect the public from serious harm, having particular regard to your conduct and the conclusion of the psychiatrist that psychological assessment suggests that you represent a higher risk of future violence. The social work report points out a number of factors which increase the risk of offending, including attitudes that support offending. The psychiatric report expands upon those misogynistic views and your adherence to conspiracy theories perpetuated by certain websites.

"I have reached the conclusion that to mark the gravity of your offending and achieve the sentencing aims I have outlined, only a custodial sentence is appropriate, together with a period of post release supervision.

"You are sentenced to a period on imprisonment of 38 months. This has been modified from 40 months because of the timing of your plea. The sentence will commence on 30^th May 2025 when you were remanded. Further, in order to protect the public from serious harm on your release I shall impose on you a supervised release order. On your release from custody, you will be under the supervision of the local authority for a period of 12 months. During that period, you will report to the supervising officer allocated in a manner and at intervals specified by them, you will keep that supervising officer informed of your current address and will comply with any other requirements they may reasonably specify. If you breach the order, you may be brought back to court and returned to custody for all or any part of a period equal to that between the date of the first breach and the date when supervision would conclude."

19 June 2026