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.
HMA v John Higgins
Sep 25, 2024
HMA v Derek Moore & Julie Ann McQuade
Sep 24, 2024
HMA v Alexander Hunter
Sep 19, 2024
HMA v Ian McMillan Cowan
Sep 16, 2024
HMA v Adele Rennie
Sep 13, 2024
HMA v Kyle Beveridge
Sep 11, 2024
HMA v Kimberley Ann Dow
Sep 10, 2024
HMA v Jamie Morrison and Chloe Arnott
Sep 5, 2024
HMA v Mark John Michael Mason and Wendy Marie Mason
Sep 3, 2024
HMA v Martin Bridge
Sep 3, 2024
HMA v Cheyenne Baptiste Naeb
Aug 30, 2024
HMA v Mohamad Sabbagh
Aug 28, 2024
HMA v William Henry Parsons
Aug 27, 2024
HMA v Paul Douglas Shrubsole
Aug 21, 2024
HMA v Christopher Ferguson
Aug 21, 2024
HMA v Esayas Neguse
Aug 20, 2024
HMA v Stuart Bretherton, Eva Simmons, Calum Lacy, Erica Hygate and Sumaya Javaid
Aug 20, 2024
HMA v Jake Loy
Aug 19, 2024
HMA v Mohammed Akram
Aug 19, 2024
HMA v Colin Bandeen
Aug 16, 2024