The Virtual Trials National Project Board has published a report which suggests that every sheriffdom should have a virtual summary court which deals with domestic abuse cases.  The report considers the pilots which were held in Inverness and Aberdeen. This allowed for insight into the practical consequences, the options for [...]

Alexander Milligan, aged 69 years old, was found guilty of assault with intent to rape in 1989. Milligan was released from prison prior to this and carried out another sexual assault.  The assault was carried out inside a flat in Edinburgh. The court heard that Milligan kissed her and touched [...]

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain QC has ordered a study of how sexual offence cases are dealt with by Scotland’s prosecution service. This study will update an earlier review which was carried out over a decade ago.  In an interview Bain stated that a significant amount had been learned about sexual [...]

Peter Antonelli, aged 66 years old, worked as a music teacher and received an MBE for his work in 2004. He worked at two schools in East Lothian for almost three decades. He has now been found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh for rape, lewd and libidinous conduct [...]

Jack Ferguson was convicted of sexually assaulting two women in a Glasgow nightclub on New Year’s Day 2020. Ferguson was sentenced to 250 hours of unpaid work along with a six month restriction of liberty order.  The complainers, both 19 years old, attended Shed nightclub on New Year's Eve . [...]

Kurt Kilgour was on his quad bike when he mounted a pavement and inflicted fatal injuries on Margaret Meldrum, 75 years old. At the time of the incident Kilgour was under the influence of drink and drugs.  Kilgour failed to brake and take evasion after the fact. He had bought [...]

The Scottish Legal Aid Board’s annual report has uncovered that Legal aid spending has fallen from £130.9 million in 2020 to £99.1m in 2020-21.  The Law Society of Scotland has addressed the issues and highlighted that the decline suggests that a long-term funding plan is necessary, in order to ensure [...]

The petitioners were convicted of murder in 2010 and were sentenced to life imprisonment at separate institutions. They were in a relationship and this relationship continued to their imprisonment.  In 2014, a petition was refused which challenged the decision to refuse them inter prison visits. During the course of the [...]

A lifelong restriction of liberty order (OLR) is a lifelong sentence and if an OLR is imposed the individual will be placed on a risk management plan for life. Over the past 15 years around 200 OLRs have been imposed. For a judge to impose an OLR it is the [...]

Sam Imrie has been jailed after glorifying terrorist acts by mass murderers online and encouraging terrorism.  The 24-year-old posted onto Telegram and Facebook statements which glorified terrorism acts by terrorists Anders Breivik and Brenton Tarrant, amongst others.  At trial at Edinburgh High Court Imrie was convicted of two charges under [...]