Ringleader of Glasgow crime gang jailed for 8 years

A drug dealer who headed up a serious organised crime gang after being released early from jail has been jailed for eight years.

Anthony O'Hare, 33, was described as a "ringleader" of a Glasgow mob who planned to flood central Scotland with heroin and cocaine in 2018.

O'Hare was jailed for seven years in 2013 for his leading role in a £2m drugs and dirty money crew.

His love of Armani suits and expensive watches helped get him caught.

But, he was back on the streets in 2017 – and soon returned to his old ways.

A large scale probe lead to him being snared again by detectives, who found £40,000 in cash.

Two associates were also held as police seized £500,000 of heroin and cocaine.

Michael Hamilton, 50, and 40-year old William Scott had been following O'Hare's orders.

Hamilton turned to crime despite waiting for a kidney transplant at the time, was not sentenced. He will be sentenced in December at the High Court in Edinburgh. He is on bail.

Scott, who became involved because he was in debt to due to his alcohol addiction, was jailed for three years.

At the High Court in Glasgow judge Lady Scott told O'Hare: “It is clear from the offences and the evidence you had a leading role in this operation on the ground.

“During this period you were on licence for serious and organised crime.”

She told Scott: “You had regular contact with Mr O'Hare and acted under his his instructions.”

O'Hare pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of both drugs, directing others to commit a serious offence as well as having £41,250 of dirty money.

Hamilton also admitted the same drug charges while Scott confessed to cocaine supply.

Prosecutor Chris McKenna said the case centred on "the large scale distribution" of drugs by an organised crime group based in Glasgow's east end.

Mr McKenna: "O'Hare was assessed as a ringleader having a more hands off role.

"He played a directing role in issuing instructions to Hamilton and, at least, one instruction to Scott."

The court heard hundreds of texts between them "painted a clear picture" of the large-scale drug operation.

This included details of postcodes and house numbers where consignments were to be delivered to across the country.

The only drugs seized were found in a car outside Hamilton's home in the city's Ruchazie.

Scott, of the city's Carntyne, had been involved in a delivery of cocaine in Glasgow.

O'Hare was held at home in Stepps, North Lanarkshire.

Police seized the £41,000, digital cash counting machines and phones.

The court was told he gave his job as "concrete technician".

Defence QC Tony Graham, represetng O'Hare, said: “his lifestyle was hardly lavish. He was the buffer between those lower down the ladder and those who are the profiteers.”

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