Court hears details of 'most sophisticated' gang encountered in Scotland

A court’s heard how a crime gang snared after a huge probe is “the most sophisticated” encountered by police in Scotland.

Prosecutors today revealed the full extent of the mob's dealings in guns, drugs, violence and dirty money.

The list of crimes included the abduction, prolonged torture and shooting of a man over an unpaid drug debt.

There was also a shooting at the family home of a gangland figure as well as a massive arsenal of weapons found hidden in a car.

The details emerged as nine gang members today returned to the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.

David Sell (50), Barry O'Neill (37), Anthony Woods (44), Francis Mulligan (41), Michael Bowman (30), Mark Richardson (30), Gerard Docherty (42), Steven McArdle (33) and Martyn Fitzsimmons (37) had earlier pled guilty to various charges.

Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC addressed the court during a near three-hour narrative of the facts of the case.

The group were caught as a result of four major investigations into serious and organised crime.

Links to the probes emerged after a large consignment of firearms were found during one operation.

Mr Prentice: “The organised crime group is the most sophisticated encountered by Police Scotland.

“Their operation centres on the importation of vast quantities of cocaine.

“Their role is as wholesalers to other organised crime groups. They are at the top of the chain in terms of drugs transactions in Scotland and the UK as a whole.”

The court heard the crew were also involved in “firearm trafficking” to “violently enforce their own operation.”

The advocate depute: “The firepower at the disposal of this crime group is unprecedented in terms of the history of organised crime in Scotland.”

Serious violence also played its part and Mr Prentice explained how drug dealer Robert Allan became a target.

He met Barry O'Neill in March 2013 in Glasgow's west end in connection with a £45,000 cocaine haul.

Allan later complained about the “quality” of the drugs.

It was agreed with a member of the crime clan he could return some of the drugs – but had to pay £30,000.

But, when he was later unable to stump up the cash, Allan fled Scotland for Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

He was traced, however, in March 2015 before being subjected to a horrific attack.

David Sell turned up at his door joined initially by two other armed men.

Sell went on to sit on a couch beside the victim and pointed a handgun at him.

The court heard Allan had his chest, arms and ankle bound together with a chain leaving him unable to move.

One of the men said to him: “It's not about the money. It is the f** principle.”

Mr Allan was later bundled into a van and driven hostage to a desolate industrial unit in Fauldhouse, Midlothian.

It was there Sell acted as a “guard” in between the victim being brutally beaten.

He was punched and kicked while a fourth man held a gun.

Mr Allan was then whipped with a thick chain, smacked with a metal bar and left with a broken leg after being battered with a 14-pound sledgehammer.

One the group went on to state: “Are you alright? Don't want you f** dying. Don't want to be up on a murder charge.”

With a fifth man now on the scene, the victim was ordered to strip – before being sprayed with a bleach.

The liquid seeped into his painful wounds causing further agony.

The court heard Mr Allan stood “naked, wet and humiliated”.

But, the ferocious violence continued with a hooded Mr Allan – also suffering a fractured cheekbone – then transported to a rural spot near East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire.

Sell was not present – but two of the other men pulled him from a car and pinned him down.

Mr Prentice: “Robert Allan was then shot three times – twice in one knee and then the other.”

Mr Allan was then dragged to the top of a hill and ordered to roll down.

As the attackers left, members of the public came to the stricken man's aid.

He was rushed to hospital with a host of serious injuries including gunshot wounds to his knees.

The court heard the most recent update is that Mr Allan needs a crutch to help him walk.

Sell was linked to the crime when it emerged he had made “special admissions” to a then partner.

Sell, of East Kilbride, admitted in court to being involved in abducting and assaulting Mr Allan to his permanent disfigurement and impairment as well as to the danger of his life.

O'Neill meantime pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

As part of the probes, Mr Prentice then told how police focused on premises and cars used by the mob.

These were for the “concealing, packaging and transporting” of cocaine, cash and firearms.

Mr Prentice: “This was the capacity in which Michael Bowman worked for the group and in doing so facilitated their criminal activities.

“Anthony Woods and Francis Mulligan were both involved in these activities.”

The trio earlier pled guilty to having roles in “serious organised crime”.

Mulligan was described in court as the “electronics expert” for the mob.

Premises across Scotland including Heatheryknowe Farm near Glasgow and Hill Street in Wishaw, Lanarkshire were raided.

The court was told the gang even had the cheek to get a “full rates rebate” at some.

The mob also used stolen high-performance cars including two £85,000 Audi RS6 motors as well as a £30,000 Volkswagen Golf.

Police believed they were to be used as “getaway” vehicles which would then be burnt out.

They also used “distinctive encrypted” mobile phones to communicate.

Disguises such as fake facial hair and wigs were also found.

The hearing was told the group used “counter surveillance and anti-surveillance tactics”.

This included specialist “signal jammers”.

Mr Prentice: “It became apparent to police that the group were conscious of surveillance and police activity and were employing covert and anti-surveillance tactics.”

A shooting at the home of Robert Kelbie in Ratho, Edinburgh was also investigated by police in September 2016.

The court heard gang member Gerard Docherty “discharged bullets from a firearm” into the conservatory of the cottage.

Kelbie was at home at the time with his ex-partner, two children, his mother and sister.

Mr Prentice: “He (Docherty) took up a vantage point in the neighbouring garden standing amongst foliage and behind a three foot high boundary wall.”

As Kelbie sat down, he heard “loud cracking sounds”. He then got his mum to press a panic alarm.

Docherty was snared after DNA linked him to the scene. However, he denied any knowledge of the shooting.

Detectives made a discovery of a massive haul of deadly firearms at a lock-up in Glasgow's Anniesland in early 2017.

They were hidden in a “engineered compartment” of the rear bumper of a Honda CRV car.

The consignment included Glocks, a Beretta, sub machine guns, a grenade and bullets.

Steven McArdle was caught with Glock handgun at a house in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire in August 2016.

In January 2017, Mark Richardson was held after a similar weapon was found hidden in a car in Glasgow's Baillieston.

Former army war veteran turned gun-runner Martyn Fitzsimmons also had a Glock and ammunition as well as hiding £36,000 of dirty money.

Judge Lord Beckett remanded all nine in custody and deferred sentencing until next month