NEW sentencing guidelines for wildlife crimes are to be “deprioritised” as a law body focuses on sexual crimes, it has been announced.

In a letter to Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf, judge Lady Dorrian – the Lord Justice Clerk, Scotland’s second most senior member of the judiciary – has confirmed that work is to begin on multiple guidelines on sentences for people found guilty of crimes involving rape, sexual assault and child abuse images.

The judge, who chairs the Scottish Sentencing Council, said splitting the guidance by offence will “allow each topic to be given in-depth consideration, and for the first guidelines on sexual offending to be produced more quickly”.

However, she warned the results could still take some time.

This is despite the decision to “deprioritise” fresh guidance on sentencing for environmental and wildlife crimes, which is now unlikely to be delivered prior to the end of this parliament in 2021.

Dorrian – whose Lord Justice Clerk appointment made her the most senior female judge in the country’s history – told Yousaf the inability to state a timeline on the new work is due to the potential impact of public feedback and the need to avoid causing harm by getting it wrong.

“It is difficult to say with any certainty how long the first guidelines on sexual offences will take to develop,” Dorrian (pictured) wrote. “This will depend on a large part on the complexities encountered as we begin detailed work on each topic, and on the feedback received during public consultation, which is a vital part of the guideline development process.

“While we recognise the desire to have sentencing guidelines on sexual offences in place as quickly as possible, as I have noted previously the potential impact of guidelines which have not been properly considered and tested would be considerable, both for individual cases and for the justice system as a whole.

“Taking the necessary time to get guidelines right is vital, especially dealing with a wide ranging, sensitive, and complex area such as sexual offending.”

The council’s guidance is used by judges and sheriffs in the sentencing of those convicted in the country’s courts, along with other relevant material such as social work papers.

The advice aims to ensure punishments imposed are consistent, fair and proportionate.

Dorrian said the sexual offences work – which follows input from victim support agencies, politicians and the judiciary – will not affect the council’s work on the sentencing of young people and those convicted of death by dangerous driving.

In February there was a public outcry after student dentist Christopher Daniel, from Glasgow, was granted an absolute discharge by a sheriff despite being found guilty of repeated sexually assaults against a six-year-old girl. The verdict means 18-year-old Daniel, who was aged from 15-17 when the crimes occurred, will not be listed on the sex offenders register or have a criminal record.

Last month, it emerged more than 90 letters had been sent to Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon over the case.