Call for tougher rape sentencing guidelines
Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC has asked judges to create tougher sentencing guidelines for rape cases.
The Lord Advocate made the request after arguing "unduly lenient" punishments have been handed out.
She made her submission at Edinburgh's Court of Criminal Appeal, where the cases of three sex offenders were being considered. The Scottish Sentencing Council is currently working on its own guidance for such cases.
Ms Bain, who leads Scotland's Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), asked judges Lady Dorrian, Lord Pentland and Lord Matthews to provide guidelines for their colleagues.