Gang set fire to prison officers' cars and left man's hand 'hanging off' in Edinburgh attacks

Six men have been jailed for a series of suspected gangland attacks in Edinburgh.

The gang’s targets included a man who told how his hand was left “hanging off” having been ambushed with blades.

The crimes, which also involved torching the cars of prison officers at HMP Addiewell, were carried out in and around Edinburgh in late 2022 and early 2023.

The attackers were caught during a large-scale investigation.

‘Out-of-control gangsterism’

One of the gang had fled, passing through various countries before being brought back to Scotland.

The crew also helped get themselves caught. One instance saw them leaving handwritten directions to a target’s home in a getaway car found during the investigation.

Michael Heeps, 34, John Murray, 25, Lee Ridgway, 32, Dale Bauld, 33, Damien Mullen, 26, and Ryan McGovern, 33, have now been convicted for their roles in the crimes following a lengthy trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Lord Mulholland told them: “You have been convicted of charges that can only be described as out-of-control gangsterism.”

They were warned they face a lengthy jail term when they are sentenced next month.

One of the gang’s victims was attacked near his home in the capital’s Pilton on January 5, 2023.

The 30-year-old was walking to a friend’s house when a car raced up and a machete-wielding assailant “casually” got out to strike him.

The victim recalled trying to fend off the blows as the weapon was swung at him.

He shouted at the attacker: “What are you doing, mate?” – but the man remained silent.

The victim told prosecutor John Keenan KC: “I remember screaming and everyone running over. My hand was literally hanging off.

“I thought I was dying on the doorstep.”

He was taken to hospital, where he was in the operating theatre for 12 hours.

This included surgery to repair his hand. The man told the trial he still remains affected by what happened and is expecting further operations.

He said speaking about it again was “bringing back bad memories”.

Another man was earlier targeted in a “high-speed chase” between Edinburgh and Dalkeith.

He was forced off the road, and his car smashed into a wall. The man was left with a “large gaping wound” to his arm after he was struck with machetes.

He also needed a number of operations, has been left scarred for life, and remains physically affected by the incident.

A physio has told him his condition is “as good as it’s going to get”.

Another man was ambushed by masked attackers in late January 2023 in the capital’s Ferniehill area.

He ended up in intensive care and a coma following the assault.

Another victim had also been targeted in December 2022 in Bilston, near Edinburgh.

They were said to be “lying in wait” before confronting him as he was in his car. They smashed the vehicle up with bladed weapons. He escaped unharmed.

In a 999 call, the victim said the attackers had tried to “chop him up”.

Mr Keenan told jurors: “It is plain they planned to attack [the victim] and cause him harm.”

“He was left in no doubt that was their intention. There was no injury, but you can still regard this as a murderous attack.”

The firebombing attacks at HMP Addiewell occurred on January 7, 2023. A total of six vehicles were set alight late at night.

The court heard how CCTV footage and forensic evidence helped catch the group, who had also tried to intimidate a witness by leaving a note calling her “a grass”.

McGovern had fled the UK initially via Campbeltown in Argyll and Bute and onto Dublin.

He went on travel to the Netherlands before going to Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.

He was eventually traced and extradited back to Scotland.

Heeps was convicted of eight charges, including three attempted murders and being involved in the Addiewell blazes.

Murray was part of two murder bids in the five charges he was guilty of.

Ridgeway was involved in three of the attempted murders. He was convicted of eight charges.

Jurors found Bauld was part of two of those attacks and Mullen one of them.

McGovern was cleared of attempted murder, but guilty along with Heeps, Ridgway, and Mullen of being involved in the blazes at Addiewell.

The charges were said to be connected to serious organised crime, but this aggravation was deleted by prosecutors at the end of the evidence.

After the verdicts, advocate depute Mr Keenan revealed all six already had lengthy criminal pasts.

Lord Mulholland told them: “You have been convicted, to varying degrees, of a number of serious charges which can only be described as out of control gangsterism.

“This was attacking a number of people with machetes to the extent that one nearly had his hand chopped off.

“Another was driven off the road and received amongst his injuries a deep hack wound to his arm.

“One ended up in a coma, and a fourth was lucky to escape unharmed.

“You also travelled to HMP Addiewell, where you set fire to six prison officers’ cars – a sinister crime against the very people tasked with executing the orders of the court.

“This was clearly intended to intimidate and send a message to those that worked at the prison.”

Detective superintendent Paul Grainger said: “The violence involved in each of these cases is completely unacceptable.

“Although these were all targeted attacks, those involved showed absolutely no regard for the communities affected.

“These incidents could have had much more serious consequences, and I want to make it clear this behaviour will not be tolerated.

“Each of these incidents formed part of a long and incredibly complex investigation.

“Detectives, working alongside specialist officers from across the country, were meticulous in going through every detail and ultimately bringing these six men to justice.

“I would like to thank them, as well as our partners in forensic services and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal services, for their work. I would also like to thank the public for their support throughout the investigation.

“These convictions show Police Scotland’s commitment to the Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce and its national strategy.

“I want to make it clear to those intent on being involved in serious and organised crime that we will not give up and you will be brought to justice.”