Copfs

A new statement of prosecution policy sets out the circumstances in which the use of diversion or referral are appropriate where a child has been accused of rape or other serious sexual offences. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said the new document recognises the seriousness

Two men who plotted to ferry cannabis with a street value of up £1.5 million into Scotland from Europe hidden inside a lorry load of watermelons have been imprisoned for a total of 13 years and two months. Scott McSeveney, 37, masterminded the cross-border plan and enlisted HGV company owner S

A former nurse who stalked and terrified a woman after matching with her on a dating app has been jailed again – this time for breaching a non-harassment order. Adele Rennie, 34, from Kilmarnock, pled guilty at the town’s Sheriff Court yesterday. She admitted contacting a woman she had p

A sales manager from Yorkshire has been jailed for 12 years for serious sexual assaults and abuse carried out while he was living in Scotland. James McCall, 49, from Pudsey in Leeds, was found guilty of nine charges including four of rape and two of assault. The High Court in Glasgow heard that

A drugs courier who tried to smuggle cocaine worth up to £5.6 million into Scotland hidden inside two large suitcases has been jailed for 10 years. Kristopher Purvis, 35, ferried 15 packages containing the Class A drugs from Mexico to Edinburgh Airport along with another man in July 2024. But

A man who forced his way into the home of a woman before violently raping and sexually assaulting her has been jailed.  Bradley Shand was found guilty of attacking the 61-year-old following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. The court heard how the victim was home alone and watching televi

A man has been given a life sentence for murder following the death of a taxi driver he was initially convicted of assaulting. 

A former drama teacher who grossly abused his position of trust by sexually abusing three pupils has been jailed. Craig Smith previously pleaded guilty to three charges at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 21 March 2025.

A South Lanarkshire woman has been sentenced after pleading guilty to threatening and abusive behaviour toward an elected official. Elspeth Wood, of Hamilton, was given a community payback order with three years supervision and ordered to attend counselling.

Two men have been jailed for a total of 10 years for running a huge drugs operation worth thousands of pounds. Kevin Ramage, 64, and Derek Wilson, 36, manufactured millions of Etizolam tablets, also known as street Valium, from one of three units on an industrial estate in Broxburn, West Lothian, be

A man who murdered his wife following a violent attack at their home has been jailed for life. Walter Buchanan, 66, was found guilty of killing Darrel Odhiambo following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow on 22 January.

A rapist who subjected four men to a catalogue of abuse including sexual violence, physical assault and controlling behaviour has been jailed for 10 years. Mantas Vanagas was found guilty of four charges on 26 November 2024 following a trial at the High Court in Paisley.

A man who helped others operate a multi-million pound smuggling operation that trafficked heroin and cocaine from South America to Scotland has been jailed for five years. Stephen Gough, 47, was sentenced at the High Court in Paisley after being found guilty following a trial of being concerned in S

The Crown Office has lodged a first notice to begin the court process for a fatal accident (FAI) inquiry into the death of 48-year-old Gary Wallace, who died on 17 April 2021 at HMP Inverness.   A preliminary hearing will be held on 8 May 2025 at Inverness Sheriff Court.  

Eleven recommendations have been made in the conjoined fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of babies Leo Lamont, Ellie McCormick, and Mira-Belle Bosch. All three died within hours of their births. Leo died at Monklands Hospital on 15 February 2019. Ellie and Mira-Belle both died at Wishaw General