Latest news with #MichaelHeeps
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Man, 38, charged after home linked to Scots kingpin torched amid explosive gang war
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAN has been charged with allegedly shooting at a house and carrying out a petrol-bombing on another linked to caged cocaine kingpin Mark Richardson. The suspect, 26, faces firearms and wilful fire-raising raps over the alleged targeting of the homes including one belonging to the brother of a jailed associate of the Edinburgh drugs baron. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The home is linked to an ally of crime kingpin Mark Richardson Credit: SCOTTISH SUN 5 It is understood the property belongs to the brother of hood Michael Heeps Credit: FACEBOOK 5 Police at the scene of the alleged shooting. Credit: SCOTTISH SUN Flames were seen leaping up to the roof after an alleged attack on a property belonging to Jed Heeps, 37 — whose brother Michael Heeps was jailed earlier this month for 'out of control gangsterism'. Another man, 38, last night became the 55th to be arrested over the ongoing mob war which has seen a spat of firebombings and gun attacks and spread overseas with the murder of two kingpins in Spain. A source told The Scottish Sun: 'Police started slow but have really ramped up the pressure. 'Arresting so many people is impressive — but it's convictions that really matter. 'The problem facing police is there's an endless line of guys who are seduced by the gangster lifestyle. 'Some of them are desperate for money. 'Others want the notoriety.' Ex-Rangers ultras leader Ross 'Miami' McGill sparked the latest round of fighting when he swore revenge after being ripped off with fake notes in a £500,000 cocaine deal. The Tamo Junto gang boss vowed to 'exterminate' the Daniel clan, Richardson and their allies over being paid counterfeit cash. His crew claimed responsibility in sinister online videos showing a series of firebomb, gun and machete attacks on their enemies and their loved ones. 'Godfather' Eddie Lyons Snr bids farewell to gunned down son & kingpin pal at double gang funeral Detectives yesterday revealed a man, 26, has been charged in connection with damage at a property in The Inch, Edinburgh, on June 12. He also faces a wilful fire-raising rap after Heep's house 10 miles away in Tranent, East Lothian was torched the next day. Onlookers told how flames could be seen 'leaping up to the roof' with the front door left charred and its guttering snapped and melted. Another man, 26, has been charged in connection with two motor fires in nearby Port Seton in May. Police launched Operation Portaledge to tackle the violence which has spread across Scotland's central belt and overseas in the last five months. A boy of 16 and a girl, 17, are among those lifted in connection with gangland activity. Detective Chief Superintendent David Ferry leads the force's Specialist Crime Division has vowed to bring all those involved to justice. He said: 'Police Scotland is taking this extremely seriously. 'We're not complacent. 'There is still lots of work to do and lots of people we're looking at who we need to also bring into custody.' Dubai-based McGill is being backed by powerful gangsters sheltering from the law in the millionaires' playground. Exiled mob leader Steven Lyons, 44, whose family has been at war with the Daniels for decades, is among those who is said to have gave his blessing to the upstart hood. He has links to the Irish Kinahan cartel which has made billions flooding Europe with cocaine and heroin but saw brother Eddie Lyons Jr, 46, and close pal Ross Monaghan, 43, murdered in a hit in May. Alleged assassin Michael Riley, 44, from Huyton, Merseyside, was arrested in connection with their deaths and is fighting extradition to Spain. Richardson henchman Michael Heeps is behind bars awaiting sentencing after being convicted of eight charges — including three attempted murders — alongside five others at the High Court in Glasgow earlier this month. Earlier this month, hundreds gathered to bid farewell to Lyons Jr and Monaghan. Grieving Godfather Eddie Lyons Snr was seen at the service struggling to contain his emotion. 5 Mark Richardson Credit: SCOTTISH SUN
BBC News
01-07-2025
- BBC News
Six guilty of attacks including torching prison staff cars in Edinburgh and Lothians
Six men have been found guilty of a series of suspected gangland attacks including setting the cars of prison officers on fire outside a Heeps, John Murray, Lee Ridgway, Dale Bauld, Damien Mullen and Ryan McGovern targeted a number of victims in and around Edinburgh between late 2022 and early attack left a man with his hand "hanging off," while another saw a victim left in intensive care and a were found guilty of numerous offences including attempted murder, wilful fire-raising and attempting to pervert the course of justice after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. The men will be sentenced next charges had been said to have had a connection with serious organised crime, but this aggravation was deleted by prosecutors at the end of the judge, Lord Mulholland, however, said the men had been found guilty of "out of control gangsterism". Machete attack Their first victim was attacked in Bilston, Midlothian in December 2022 when a gang attacked his car and smashed it up with bladed told a 999 call they had tried to "chop him up".Another man was targeted by a machete-wielding assailant near his home in Edinburgh's Pilton area on 5 January, said he attempted to fend off the attacker after he pulled up in a car and began striking him with the hand was almost completely severed in the attack, after which he was rushed to hospital and spent 12 hours in man said he thought he was "dying on the doorstep". Another man was targeted in a "high speed chase" between Edinburgh and 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 also needed a number of operations, has been left scarred for life and remains physically affected by the 7 January, 2023, six cars belonging to staff at HMP Addiewell in West Lothian were set on fire late at that month, another of the gang's victims was ambushed by masked attackers in the Ferniehill area of injuries were so severe he ended up in intensive care and a coma. 'Sinister' crimes The court heard all six men had lengthy criminal were caught thanks to CCTV and forensic evidence, as well as a handwritten note branding a potential witness "a grass".McGovern, 33, fled Scotland via Campbeltown in Argyll and Bute and onto went on travel to the Netherlands before going to Cambodia, VIetnam, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates before being caught and extradited back to was cleared of attempted murder, but was found guilty along with Heeps, Ridgway and Mullen of being involved in the blazes at 34, was convicted of eight charges including three attempted 32, was involved in three of the attempted murders and was convicted of eight found Bauld, 33, was involved in two of those attacks and Mullen, 26, one of 25, was convicted of five charges, including two attempted murders. 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 one nearly had his hand chopped off."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 added: "This was clearly intended to intimidate and send a message to those that worked at the prison." Det Supt Paul Grainger said the level of violence in the attacks was "completely unacceptable".He added: ""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."
