Paisley men who plotted to kill gang rival jailed
The pair sourced guns for the hit but were foiled by police
Last updated 23rd Jun 2023
Two Paisley men who plotted to kill a gang rival have each been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison at Glasgow High Court.
Gerald Gilmour, 35, and Martin Mullen, 34, were snared after police cracked encrypted messages discussing the plan.
The pair targeted Robert "Bob" Ross and sourced guns for the hit in the summer of 2020.
They communicated via Encrochat – a platform favoured by criminals.
But, after the messaging service was smashed by French and Dutch authorities, the kill bid was foiled.
Judge Douglas Brown said it was evident from messages both "wanted the victim dead".
A deadly plot
He added a stolen car as well the firearms and ammunition had been sought with the "pros and cons" of each weapon discussed.
In April 2020, Mullen, of Paisley, stated in a text to an associate how he would like him "chopped".
Police went on to discover a Glock pistol and a shotgun - said to have been used in a previous murder - at a house linked to Gilmour.
The pair today returned to the High Court today having earlier pled guilty to a charge of conspiracy to murder.
The crime spanned between 5th May and June 2020 listing addresses in Paisley, Renfrewshire and Larkhall, Lanarkshire.
Mullen later claimed Gilmour said he would "do that Bob Ross".
The prosecutor told the court: "They discuss the job, weapons involved, payment and an Encrochat phone being sourced for Gilmour."
Gilmour - previously jailed for attempted murder - further revealed his "hatred" for his target, who was said to be part of a "rival organised crime group".
"A good time to do the job"
Mullen later stated "because people are wearing masks, this is a good time to do the job" - referring to one of the then pandemic measures.
A Glock pistol and bullets were later delivered in a bag by associate Alistair Douglas, 56, to Gilmour at a pub.
Douglas was said not to have known what was in the bag when he delivered it to Gilmour.
A total of £115,350 of heroin and £52,035 of street Valium was further found during the raid.
Douglas, also of Paisley, pled guilty to involvement in serious organised crime which included delivering the gun to Gilmour as well as the trafficking of drugs.
He was jailed today for a total of five years and three months.