Scottish Sentencing Council

The Council’s public consultation on its draft sentencing guideline for domestic abuse opens today. The guideline sets out the issues judges should consider when deciding a sentence in domestic abuse cases. Share your thoughts on our website: tinyurl.com/2a5e9aaj

We have published our latest blog providing an insight into the work of the Parole Board for Scotland and how decisions are made. Read our new blog👉tinyurl.com/2uketuz9

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Haldane imposed a life sentence on Momodou Bobb after he pled guilty to murder. The punishment part, the minimum time he will spend in prison before being considered for release, was set at 16 years and 8 months. bit.ly/43lSZzu

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson sentenced Claire Kilduff to life imprisonment for the murder of Mrs Ann Coll. Kilduff must serve a minimum incarceration period of 21 years before being eligible to apply for parole. bit.ly/4dPMlYq

📢Our public consultation on a draft sentencing guideline for domestic abuse is now live. View the draft guideline and have your say on our website: tinyurl.com/2a5e9aaj

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Sheriff Andrew McIntyre imposed prison terms on Andrew Campbell, John Devine, Thomas Slavin & Liam Coogans for their part in football related disorder. All four also had football banning orders imposed. bit.ly/4nARSFr

At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge D Brown sentenced Leon Beagan (Gibson) to seven years imprisonment for culpable homicide. He was convicted of assaulting and killing Andrew Lees in Renfrewshire in 2023. Read the full sentencing statement here: judiciary.scot/home/sentences…

📣Friday Fact! Find out more about automatic early release and how prison sentences work 👉 tinyurl.com/76k7hbtr

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson sentenced Jordan Honeyman to life imprisonment for the murder of Alan Lawson in Ayrshire. Read the full sentencing statement here: judiciary.scot/home/sentences…

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson imposed a 5-and-a-half-year prison sentence on Stuart Wilson. The offender pled guilty to a charge of fraud. Read the full sentencing statement here: judiciary.scot/home/sentences…

At the High Court, Lord Mulholland imposed prison sentences on Marshall O'Hara, Fraser Stewart & Aiden McLaughlin for wilful fire raising aggravated by serious organised crime. O’Hara & Stewart received 7 years 6 months, with McLaughlin receiving 3 years. bit.ly/4uiZYoT

What is a sentencing guideline? What does in cumulo mean? The Council’s Jargon Buster uses clear, straightforward language to explain key legal terms used in the criminal justice system in Scotland. Find out more on our website 👉tinyurl.com/ycycs2rb

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Harrower imposed prison terms of 56 months and 27 months to Gemma Robertson and Erin Birse respectively. The pair pled guilty to four charges of assault and robbery. Read the full sentencing statement here: judiciary.scot/home/sentences…

At the Sheriff Court in Paisley, Sheriff Mohan imposed a £50,000 fine on haulage company, A & D Logistics Ltd. The Linwood-based business pled guilty to a charge under the Health & Safety at Work Act. The full sentencing statement is available here: judiciary.scot/home/sentences…

At Paisley Sheriff Court, Direct Engineering (Scotland) Ltd was ordered to pay £12,000 by Sheriff Mohan. The business pled guilty to a charge under the Health & Safety at Work Act. The full sentencing statement is available here: bit.ly/4cUnKBk

We are now in the pre-election period for the Scottish Parliament election due to take place on 7 May. Communications activity will be restricted and our social media accounts will be quieter than usual. We can still be contacted at sentencingcouncil@scotcourts.gov.uk.

The purpose of an extended sentence is to protect the public. It combines a period in prison or detention (the custodial term) with a further set time of supervision in the community (the extension period).

✅ Friday Fact! An indeterminate sentence has no set end point such as a life sentence or Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR). Some offenders will spend longer in prison than the initial punishment part set by the judge. Some may never be released.

📢 The latest edition of the Council's newsletter, Spotlight on Sentencing Circular, is out today. Read more on our website: bit.ly/47W8qB8

At the High Court, Lord Arthurson imposed a 9 year prison sentence on Richard Smeaton. The offender was found guilty of hamesucken, assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and danger of life and attempted murder. bit.ly/4lD5O0W