Latest news with #RobertPaterson
Telegraph
03-07-2025
- Telegraph
Inmate given 10-year sentence for revenge plot on prison officer
A convicted murderer who plotted a gun attack on a prison guard has been jailed for more than 10 years. Robert Paterson, 45, planned the 'revenge' attack on an officer at HMP Edinburgh, believing he had put his life at risk by delaying a hospital visit after he swallowed seven bags of cocaine. The plot was foiled when police eavesdropped on conversations Paterson had about the plan through surveillance equipment they had installed in his cell in early 2023. At the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, Lord Harrower sentenced Paterson to 10 and a half years in prison for his latest offending, with the sentence to begin immediately. He is currently serving a life sentence for murder and is not due to become eligible for parole until 2027. Lord Harrower told Paterson: 'It is clear your proper purpose was conspiring to commit a serious crime.' The judge said that shortly before 2am on Nov 15 2022, the officer heard Paterson 'scream that he was having a heart attack' from inside his cell and 'demand' to be taken to hospital. The officer had seen Paterson swallowing a SIM card he had removed from a mobile phone, and staff at the prison were surprised to see an ambulance arrive when none of them had ordered it. Paterson's vital signs were deemed healthy so he was kept in prison under observation for a few hours before being taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh shortly before 8am. Lord Harrower added the officer had been aware of an attempt by Paterson to escape when admitted to hospital in 2012. At hospital Paterson was given a CT scan and underwent surgery to remove seven plastic bags of cocaine from his stomach. An unnecessary delay The judge said that later Paterson began to 'seek revenge' against the officer for what he believed was an unnecessary delay in sending him to hospital. He set about obtaining a weapon and 'identified an individual who was prepared to carry out an assault' in return for 'drugs or money'. He also discussed procuring a vehicle and driver for the assault. Thomas Ross KC, Paterson's advocate, earlier told the court his client had reacted after deeming 'the manner in which the medical emergency was handled increased the risk of a fatal outcome'. On May 2 2025, Paterson pleaded guilty to directing others to carry out an assault and obtaining for that purpose a handgun, ammunition and a vehicle. He also admitted directing and arranging the supply of drugs and to directing others to steal drugs, watches and money. Teresa Medhurst, the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), said: 'As Lord Harrower rightly identified, the officer in this case acted entirely appropriately and it is completely unacceptable that he, or any other member of SPS staff, be targeted in this way. 'We will continue to work closely with partners across the justice sector to ensure that all necessary action is taken to protect those who play a vital role in keeping Scotland safe.'
The Independent
03-07-2025
- The Independent
Murderer who planned gun attack on prison officer given 10-year sentence
A convicted murderer who plotted a gun attack on a prison guard has been given a sentence of more than 10 years. Robert Paterson, 45, planned the attack in an act of 'revenge', believing the officer at HMP Edinburgh had put his life at risk with a delay in sending him to hospital after he swallowed seven bags of cocaine. The plot was foiled when police eavesdropped on conversations Paterson was having about the plan through 'covert' surveillance equipment they had installed in his cell in early 2023. At a sentencing hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, judge Lord Harrower explained the origins of Paterson's 'animus' towards the officer. The judge said that shortly before 2am on November 15, 2022, the officer heard Paterson 'scream he was having a heart attack' from inside his cell, and 'demanded' he be taken to hospital. He said the officer had seen Paterson swallowing a sim card he had just removed from a mobile phone, and staff at the prison were surprised to see an ambulance arrive when none of them had ordered it. Paterson's 'vital signs' were deemed healthy so he was kept in prison under observation for a few hours, before being taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh shortly before 8am. Lord Harrower added the officer had been 'aware' of an attempt by Paterson to escape when admitted to hospital in 2012, but said there was no indication the episode had been 'another attempt' to break out of jail. Once at hospital Paterson was given a CT scan, and underwent surgery to remove seven plastic bags of cocaine from his stomach. The judge told Paterson that following his return to prison he began to 'seek revenge' against the officer, believing he had been the cause of an 'unnecessary delay' in sending him to hospital. He set about obtaining a handgun and ammunition, and 'identified an individual who was prepared to carry out an assault' in return for 'drugs or money'. He also discussed procuring a vehicle and driver to be used in the assault. Thanks to the surveillance equipment police had installed in Paterson's cell, police got wind of the plan and 'intervened before an assault had been attempted'. Lord Harrower told Paterson: 'It is clear your proper purpose was conspiring to commit a serious crime.' Paterson's advocate Thomas Ross KC earlier told the court his client had reacted after deeming 'the manner in which the medical emergency was handled increased the risk of a fatal outcome'. On May 2 this year, Paterson pleaded guilty to directing others to carry out an assault, and obtaining for that purpose a handgun, ammunition and a vehicle. He also admitted directing and arranging the supply of drugs, and to directing others to steal drugs, watches and money. He is currently serving a life sentence for murder and is not due to become eligible for parole until 2027. Lord Harrower sentenced Paterson to 10-and-a-half years in prison for his latest offending, with the sentence to begin immediately. Paterson, who appeared in court dressed in a pale brown fleece, showed no reaction as the sentence was handed down. He nodded and waved to people in the public gallery as he was led from court. Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Scottish Prison Service chief executive Teresa Medhurst said: 'We welcome the significant custodial sentences passed today at Edinburgh High Court. 'As Lord Harrower rightly identified, the officer in this case acted 'entirely appropriately' and it is completely unacceptable that he, or any other member of SPS staff, be targeted in this way. 'The safety of our staff is absolutely paramount. We will continue to work closely with partners across the justice sector, to ensure that all necessary action is taken to protect those who play a vital role in keeping Scotland safe.'
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Murderer is jailed for ten years for 'revenge' plot on prison guard who delayed sending him to hospital when he swallowed seven bags of cocaine
A convicted murderer who plotted a vengeful gun attack on a prison guard has been given a sentence of more than 10 years. Robert Paterson, 45, planned the attack in an act of 'revenge', believing the officer at HMP Edinburgh had put his life at risk with a delay in sending him to hospital after he swallowed seven bags of cocaine. The plot was foiled when police eavesdropped on conversations Paterson was having about the plan through 'covert' surveillance equipment they had installed in his cell in early 2023. At a sentencing hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh today, judge Lord Harrower explained the origins of Paterson's 'animus' towards the officer. The judge said that shortly before 2am on November 15 2022, the officer heard Paterson 'scream he was having a heart attack' from inside his cell and 'demanded' he be taken to hospital. He said the officer had seen Paterson swallowing a SIM card just removed from a mobile phone and staff at the prison were surprised to see an ambulance arrive when none of them had ordered it. Paterson's 'vital signs' were deemed healthy so he was kept in prison under observation for a few hours, before being taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh shortly before 8am. Lord Harrower added the officer had been 'aware' of an attempt by Paterson to escape when admitted to hospital in 2012. But the judge said there was no indication the episode had been 'another attempt' to break out of jail. Once at hospital Paterson was given a CT scan, and underwent surgery to remove seven plastic bags of cocaine from his stomach. The judge told Paterson that following his return to prison he began to 'seek revenge' against the officer, believing he had been the cause of an 'unnecessary delay' in sending him to hospital. He set about obtaining a handgun and ammunition, and 'identified an individual who was prepared to carry out an assault' in return for 'drugs or money', as well as talking about procuring a vehicle and driver to be used in the assault. Thanks to the surveillance equipment police had installed in Paterson's cell, police got wind of the plan and 'intervened before an assault had been attempted'. Lord Harrower told Paterson: 'It is clear your proper purpose was conspiring to commit a serious crime.' Paterson's advocate Thomas Ross KC earlier told the court his client had reacted after deeming 'the manner in which the medical emergency was handled increased the risk of a fatal outcome'. On May 2 this year, Paterson pleaded guilty to directing others to carry out an assault, and obtaining for that purpose a handgun, ammunition and a vehicle. He also admitted directing and arranging the supply of drugs, and to directing others to steal drugs, watches and money. He is currently serving a life sentence for murder and is not due to become eligible for parole until 2027. Lord Harrower sentenced Paterson to 10 and a half years in prison for his latest offending, with the sentence to begin immediately. Paterson, who appeared in court dressed in a pale brown fleece, showed no reaction as the sentence was handed down, before nodding and waving to people in the public gallery as he was led away. Paterson had been given life behind bars for shooting dead Ronald Dougan in Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire, in 2008 - and in 2012 had another three years added to his sentence following the foiled escape plan. Speaking after the latest sentencing hearing, Scottish Prison Service chief executive Teresa Medhurst said: 'We welcome the significant custodial sentences passed today at Edinburgh High Court. 'As Lord Harrower rightly identified, the officer in this case acted 'entirely appropriately' and it is completely unacceptable that he, or any other member of SPS staff, be targeted in this way. 'The safety of our staff is absolutely paramount. We will continue to work closely with partners across the justice sector, to ensure that all necessary action is taken to protect those who play a vital role in keeping Scotland safe.'
BBC News
03-07-2025
- BBC News
Killer inmate jailed for gun revenge plot on Edinburgh prison guard
A convicted murderer has been jailed for 10 and a half years after ordering a revenge gun attack on a prison Paterson, 45, was serving life in HMP Edinburgh when he claimed to be having a heart attack after swallowing bags of guard suspected an escape attempt and delayed him from going to hospital in November 2022, which Paterson believed put his life at the High Court in Edinburgh, Paterson admitted ordering accomplices to obtain a handgun and ammo, before the plot was foiled by police. The court was told that after Paterson said he was having a heart attack, an ambulance arrived at HMP Edinburgh that had not been ordered by prison guard was suspicious of Paterson as he had planned a previous escape attempt in 2012 that involved being taken to officer also saw Paterson remove a sim card from a mobile phone and swallow agreed with paramedics to monitor Paterson in the jail before he was sent to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary hours later. Prosecutor Alan Cameron KC said that Paterson later complained that medics had told him there was a risk of the cocaine bags bursting in his Cameron said: "He was extremely unhappy about the delay. He claimed that he had been told at hospital that he was lucky to be alive."He decided that he would seek revenge upon the officer by having him seriously assaulted."Prison officials were concerned about Paterson's behaviour and in February 2023 a hidden surveillance device was installed in his was recorded discussing a plan to attack the prison Cameron added: "Fortunately, the police intervened and no attempt to was actually made to assault the officer who was entirely unaware."Paterson was at HMP Edinburgh on a life sentence after shooting a man in a street in Cumbernauld in 2008.
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Criminals allowed to watch X-rated and violent films from the comfort of their jail cells
Scotland's most hardened criminals are being allowed to watch X-rated films and TV shows featuring extreme criminal activity, sex and drug use from the comfort of their cells Amid an 'epidemic' of violence behind bars, inmates at one of the country's toughest jails, HMP Barlinnie, are free to rent from a range of thousands of 18+ DVDs, which include films about serial killers and sexual deviants. That is despite such X-rated films and videos being outlawed in English jails since 2013. A list of movies available to prisoners, obtained via freedom of information laws, include titles such as Saw, Silence of the Lambs and American TV show Dexter, about a police forensic officer who kills criminals in his free time. Inmates can also watch TV shows about real-life child killers Fred and Rose West, Myra Hindley and Beverley Allitt, as well as highly sexualised content including Fifty Shades of Grey, Brokeback Mountain and American Pie. Shockingly, US TV series Prison Break – about two brothers hatching a complex plan to break free from jail – is also available to watch. Prison officers have now demanded that the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) review access to the material amid fears it could heighten tensions behind bars. It comes after it was revealed that there have been more than 250 assaults on prison staff on average each year over the past decade. Earlier this month, the High Court in Edinburgh heard that convicted murderer Robert Paterson plotted to have a guard at HMP Saughton 'seriously assaulted' with a handgun. A spokesman for the Prison Officer's Association said: 'Given all the factors such as overcrowding, drug use, bullying and organised crime gang activities inside our prisons, the last thing we need is anything else adding to the tension or temperatures. 'It is something that the SPS should be reviewing as a priority with a view to limiting the availability of these films.' However, the Scottish Conservatives went further and demanded that SNP ministers intervene to force the SPS to remove the films. Justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: 'Ordinary Scots will be appalled that inmates are being provided with X-rated movies. 'England and Wales banned 18-rated movies and TV shows from their prisons 12 years ago and it is about time the Scottish Prison Service followed suit. 'Many of the prisoners at Barlinnie will be behind bars for violent crimes, so it is common sense that they should not be able to access graphically violent material about serial killers and torturers.' He added: 'Prisoners trying to get clean will also not be helped by having access to content that promotes drug use. 'SNP ministers must intervene and immediately direct the SPS to remove violent or sexual films.' The SPS was asked by the Tories to provide a full list of the films, TV shows and games that prisoners had access to in Glasgow's HMP Barlinnie. Thousands of titles were revealed, of all different certifications, including many that appear to be highly inappropriate for a rehabilitative environment. Those featuring graphic violence and torture include Silence of the Lambs, about a serial killer who preys on women, as well as the Saw horror franchise, another film about a serial killer, who tortures his victims. Dexter, Blade, Deadpool, Kill Bill and the Exorcist are also available as well as shows with graphic and disturbing sexual content. These include Taxi Driver, about a 12-year-old child who is forced into sex work. Other films and TV series that may be seen to promote criminal activity and drug use include Scarface, The Wire, Narcos, Sons of Anarchy, Breaking Bad, Prison Break and Peaky Blinders. In 2013, former Conservative Justice Minister Chris Grayling cracked down on the availability of such films and TV shows in prisons in England and Wales. A spokeswoman for the SPS said: 'Access to watching DVDs is a privilege not a right, and is available at the discretion of the Governor.'
