STV NewsA former market trader turned “surveillance expert” hired by criminals has been hit with a “super-asbo” for when he is freed from jail.
Ian Sweeney had been recruited to try and keep gangland figures one step ahead of the law.
The 53-year-old, who had been the director of a private investigation firm, used the handle “bug-sweep” on the EncroChat phone network, which was once favoured by crime mobs.
Sweeney had also been the “middleman” in lucrative drug trafficking.
Ex-Barras market street trader Sweeney was sentenced to two years at the High Court in Glasgow in October.
He pleaded guilty to being involved in serious organised crime between March and May 2020.
Sweeney was already serving a five-year jail term at the time, having been convicted in 2023 for his role in a large-scale drug dealing operation.
Prosecutors moved for Sweeney to be hit with a Serious Crime Prevention Order (SPCO) in connection with the latest offence.
These are designed to monitor and restrict criminals when they are back on the streets.
Lord Colbeck – the judge who previously sentenced him – imposed a four-year SCPO at a hearing on Friday.
Prosecutor Margaret Barron told the court in October how Sweeney “developed a reputation within criminal circles” of being able to get information on certain individuals, including tracing where they could be found.
He was regularly in touch with associates via EncroChat.
This included offering advice and providing “anti-surveillance measures” to avoid detection by the police.
He was also able to help adapt vehicles to construct “stash” areas, which gangsters often use to hide drugs or dirty money.
Miss Barron: “He advised (an associate) that although he was based in Scotland, he travelled all over the UK to conduct his activities.
“The data showed Sweeney was specifically told the reason he was being asked to obtain information was for a criminal purpose.”
The court was given examples of some of his exchanges on EncroChat, which was busted by French and Dutch law authorities.
In one, he suggested a cost of £1,500 for a “bug sweep” of any house or office in a European country.
Sweeney stated he worked for a “professional counter surveillance and intelligence company” employed “throughout the world” for banks and energy firms.
One associate, thought to be London-based, later got in touch stating he wanted two or three cars checked for “scanners and bugs ASAP”.
This individual said: “Pals found tracker on his motor.”
When shown a photo of the device, Sweeney replied, “It’s not coppers, mate. It’s a cheap eBay one.”
The associate added: “Yeah rats.”
Miss Barron said Sweeney was also involved in trafficking cocaine and cannabis throughout Scotland.
The advocate depute: “He mainly sourced drugs from one (EncroChat) handle before supplying these to another.”
This included 5kg of cocaine. He was also in contact with another individual who was keen on moving a large consignment of cannabis.
Thomas Ross KC, defending, told the hearing at the time Sweeney had a long-held interest in “technology” and was “entirely self-taught”.
Sweeney was jailed in March 2023, having teamed up with flash drugs boss James Paterson.
He helped Paterson, 35, track down someone who owed him money.
Sweeney also passed on orders to another individual as part of Paterson’s massive drug trafficking operation.
Like the latest offence, Sweeney was convicted of being involved in serious organised crime.
Paterson was jailed for 14 years for crimes including class A drug dealing and money laundering.
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