Weekly roundup of Scots Law in the headlines including rape sentencing report — Monday November 3

A review of all the latest headlines from the world of Scots Law including rape sentencing guidelines, as well as Trump's constitutional chaos, and Steve Coogan's legal hot water over Richard III film.

New rape sentencing guidelines published

The Scottish Sentencing Council has published a detailed report with finalised guidelines on rape sentencing follow a public consultation.

Some of the sentencing ranges in each guideline have been increased. The range for sentencing rape, for instance, now starts at five years in custody.

• Council publishes consultation report on draft guidelines for rape offences (Scottish Sentencing Council)
• Rape sentencing guidelines to ‘enhance consistency and predictability’ – judge (STV)
• Rape sentences starting point increased under new Scottish guidelines (Herald)
• Rape sentencing guidelines will 'enhance consistency' (Scotsman)

Academic receives 'substantial damages' after court ruling about Steve Coogan's Richard III film

An English university academic portrayed in a film about the search for Plantagenet monarch Richard III under a Leicester council car park has successfully sued comedian Steve Coogan and his production company.

Richard Taylor launched a High Court action claiming the film had made him seem 'misogynistic' and 'weasel-like' The film will not carry a message at the beginning, and the defamatory comments will not be repeated.

• Academic who sued Steve Coogan over Richard III film says he hasn't received an apology (Sky News)
• Man gets payout over portrayal in Richard III film (BBC)
• ‘Steve Coogan may fight for the truth, but he told lies about me’ (Telegraph)
• Steve Coogan says Richard III film was ‘story I wanted to tell’ as he agrees to libel settlement

And in other news

Legal headlines from across the UK and beyond:

• 'Evil' man who murdered Stagecoach driver by crashing head-on into bus jailed for life (STV)
  
• UK lawyers can continue working in Switzerland (Solicitors Journal)
• Letters: Putting children’s safety first will protect them from abusive parents (Guardian)
• [£] Kirkland & Ellis trains lawyers on communication style after investor tensions (Financial Times)
• Lawfluencer declared bankrupt (Legal Cheek)
• [£] Jim Gamble: ‘toxic politics’ led me to pull out of grooming inquiry (The Times)
• Law firms disagree on what should be considered a complaint (Legal Futures)
• Five more prisoners freed in error after sex offender’s release from Essex jail (Guardian)
• [£] Sandbanks residents in legal battle over ‘land grab’ beach fence (The Times)
• Trump-appointed acting US attorney disqualified from cases for ‘unlawfully serving’, rules judge (Guardian)
• UK lawtech business seeks buyer following £38 million fundraising setback (Legal Cheek)
• [£] Dungeons & Dragons club in £150,000 row over ‘inappropriate cuddling’ (The Times)