logo
Social influencer gangster attacked after filming video where Scottish mobsters died

Social influencer gangster attacked after filming video where Scottish mobsters died

Edinburgh Live15 hours ago
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
A gangster was brutally attacked just days after making a video at the scene of the murders of two Scottish mob leaders.
Self-styled social influencer Sam Walker – who has gathered a massive online following with reports on his criminal life – was seriously injured in the attack, which left him with a mass of staples in his skull. The attack came after he posted a video from Monaghan's bar in Fuengirola, in the Costa del Sol.
The "reportage" video was seen by some in the community as disrespectful to victims Ross Monaghan, who owned the bar, and his long-time friend and associate Eddie Lyons jnr. The pair were gunned down on May 31 in front of terrified punters who had been enjoying the Champions League final, reports the Daily Record.
READ MORE - Exact date Edinburgh heatwave coming as residents set for temperatures of 27C
READ MORE - Fans divided after Edinburgh Castle gig as Marti Pellow takes to stage
Walker, from Liverpool, had visited the scene shortly after the horror shootings and used the footage on his Instagram and TikTok platforms.
He is heard saying at the end of the footage: "This is a message to any one of yous out here. Stay on point, because if you get caught slipping. That's what happens. Three people have been whacked, two people are dead.
"Have a nice day, bam bam."
It later emerged that Walker was savagely attacked in nearby Puerto Banus, where he suffered serious head injuries in the assault believed by some other bloggers to have involved golf clubs. After surgery in a Spanish hospital, he made a series of videos, showing off the staples that were holding his head together.
(Image: Daily Record)
A source said: "Sam Walker is very well known and has a big social media following but he is not in the same criminal league as some of the big players who have settled here. Walker is known to create noise around his movements and to chase followers and hits, so there was scepticism at the seriousness of the attack at the start.
"But it does seem that he was very badly injured. It has been reported on several social media channels that the side of his head was 'caved in' and fragments of bone were lodged in his brain."
The source added: "We don't know for sure but the video he made shortly after the Glasgow people were murdered did not go down well in some quarters and there remains the question that he was attacked as revenge.
"Spanish police are well aware of this suggestion. There are various theories as to the motive for the attack. It is almost certainly related to gangland grudges."
In recent years, Walker has spent time in Sierra Leone, Turkey, Cyprus, Ireland, Thailand and other locations. His friends include other drug dealers and assorted criminals. The crook has attracted a big following on Instagram and TikTok but is mocked for fabricating stories.
He also been involved acts of kindness and charity work in Africa. In the summer of 2018, Walker filmed himself surrounded by celebrating children in a poverty-stricken slum in Sierra Leone.
He had just overseen the delivery of a container full of supplies and the installation of a water tank and pipes to the West African country's capital, Freetown. Amid clapping and cheering, one man said: "We are happy that our brother Sam has come to help us with water and sanitation. We thank God for him."
Walker told the camera: "Now, no child is going to have to drink dirty water again."
The crook had travelled by private jet to Belgium, flown to Spain, caught a cargo ship to Morocco, then driven through the Sahara desert to reach his destination. All throughout his journey, he taunted police officers in social media posts, laughing and posting at the end of his epic trip: "Better luck trying to catch me when I go out of the country next time, Merseyside Police."
In March last year, Walker further mocked police after skipping bail in the UK and fleeing back to Sierra Leone by private jet. He was arrested by local armed officers as he filmed a live TikTok video.
Self-confessed career criminal Walker – who once threatened to end the career of England football star Ross Barkley and was involved in an unlikely spat with actor Stephen Fry – was tracked down as he toured the streets of the impoverished African country.
In September last year, the 40-year-old Scouser was convicted of contempt of court for live streaming on TikTok from an Irish courtroom. Walker, said to have convictions for more than 130 offences, was in court to plead guilty to driving offences.
Monaghan, 43, was shot dead alongside Lyons jnr, 46, in Fuengirola. Both men were senior members of the Lyons crime family. An alleged hitman has appeared in court after being arrested over the double killing.
Michael Riley, 44, of Liverpool's Huyton, is also fighting extradition to Spain. Merseyside Police nicked Riley on June 13 after Spanish officers issued an international arrest warrant.
A magistrates court deemed him a flight risk and remanded him in custody.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Beauty influencer left ‘disfigured' after she was tied up, doused with bleach and ‘raped' by gunmen in horror burglary
Beauty influencer left ‘disfigured' after she was tied up, doused with bleach and ‘raped' by gunmen in horror burglary

Scottish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Beauty influencer left ‘disfigured' after she was tied up, doused with bleach and ‘raped' by gunmen in horror burglary

'What I've been through today is horrible,' the French influencer said HORROR ATTACK Beauty influencer left 'disfigured' after she was tied up, doused with bleach and 'raped' by gunmen in horror burglary A WOMAN was left "disfigured" after three men allegedly broke into her Marseille home, where she was attacked and raped. Soraya Riffy, a 30-year-old influencer, told French paper Le Parisien how armed intruders beat her and left her unconscious during a terrifying burglary. 4 Soraya Riffy was left 'disfigured' after three men attacked her and burgled her home Credit: Snapchat 4 The intruders left the 30-year-old woman lying unconscious Credit: / /Instagram 4 Soraya suffered facial fractures and 'numerous cuts all over her body', according to her lawyer Credit: / /Instagram Three "armed" men allegedly "tied her up, beat her up and sprayed her with bleach" on Friday, according to Le Parisien. A spokesperson for Soraya said on Instagram: "She was kidnapped, raped, assaulted" in the vicious attack. They explained the attack took place after a man arrived at her home posing "as a neighbour who did not have his keys" at around 9.30pm. The man then stormed into the flat, joined by other armed intruders, she added. The men "tied her up, beat her at gunpoint and with box cutters, and threatened to kill her if she didn't give them money" for over an hour and a half, according to the spokesperson. When she tried to free herself, an attacker put a gun to her head, reported Le Parisien. Tape was reportedly placed over Soraya's mouth, causing her to suffocate and convulse. She was left with multiple facial fractures and "numerous cuts all over her body", her lawyer Tom Michel said in a statement posted on Soraya's Instagram account. He said Soraya lost consciousness during the attack and has no memory of what happened. 'Because of the pain and marks on her body, we unfortunately suspect sexual assault, or even rape," Michel said. Shooter, 27, with tactical gear & rifle is killed after opening fire on Border Control agents & forcing airport closure- She woke up covered in bleach "no doubt to erase the DNA traces of her attackers", he added. The men fled the scene, taking with them "a Cartier bracelet, her house and car keys, two luxury bags and a Rolex watch". Michel said "they knew very well who she was", adding that "like many female influencers, Soraya Riffy has a lifestyle on the internet that can appear quite luxurious". Her spokesperson added: "She was targeted for extortion, except that, unluckily for her attackers, she has no money." Soraya posted a video on social media showing her face battered and bruised from the brutal attack. She said: "I'm so disgusted. What I've been through today is horrible." She told Le Parisien: "I'm disfigured, disgusted and frightened. Too much media exposure leads to danger. "I'm going to leave Marseille permanently, leave social media for the time being, I'm lost." One of the latest posts written by her spokesperson on Sunday mentions threatening emails sent to extort money from her. "She had repeatedly alerted the authorities to the threats against her," her lawyer said. The 30-year-old has been interviewed by police officers at the hospital, report French outlets. Cops have reportedly launched an investigation into armed robbery, kidnapping, death threats and gang violence. Soraya rose to fame in 2016 after appearing on the French TV talk show, Touche pas à mon poste (Don't touch my TV set). She's known for sharing her views on fashion and fitness, as well as promoting body positivity and self-confidence to her one million Instagram followers.

Kayden Moy's death raised in House of Commons by MP
Kayden Moy's death raised in House of Commons by MP

Glasgow Times

time3 hours ago

  • Glasgow Times

Kayden Moy's death raised in House of Commons by MP

Kayden died after a disturbance at Irvine Beach in May. Three teenagers, one aged 14 and two aged 17, have been charged in connection with his death. READ NEXT:Council gets hundreds of legal threats a month over homelessness Joani Reid, Labour MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, raised the issue of youth violence at Home Office Questions She told the minister for policing and crime prevention, Diana Johnson, about Kayden's case. Reid said: 'Six weeks ago, Kayden Moy, a 16 year-old boy from East Kilbride in my constituency, was stabbed to death, leaving his family bereft and a community, my community, in grief. 'Since Kayden's death, I've received multiple videos and images of local youths posing and wielding machetes from their own homes and the police claiming they are powerless to take any action whatsoever. 'Does the minister agree that much more needs to be done to stop the very real glamourisation of knife crime online and prevent social media companies and social media form becoming a breeding ground for youth violence?' The minister said it was 'appalling to hear'. READ NEXT:Calton residents hit out at minister's comments over drug needles Johnson added that Reid was right 'about the role social media can play in glamourising these types of weapons'. She said: 'That's why it's so important we have measures in the crime and policing bill within the Online Safety Act as well to start to tackle this.' Afterwards, Reid said: 'Kayden's death was a tragedy for his family and a shock to the whole of East Kilbride. The worrying fact is that knife crime is rising across Scotland, even in schools, and we need to mobilise as a community to bring it under control. 'I have been sent numerous videos by concerned and frightened constituents of boys and young men posing in their bedrooms with dangerous knifes and blades. 'The social media companies refuse to act, and the police say they have not got the power to act. But there can be no excuses for doing nothing when we all know this bravado leads on to violence. 'I will use the summer weeks to press social media companies, public authorities and the Scottish government to get their act together on knife crime and to insist we get real action and not more excuses.'

Man appears in court charged with murder after woman found dead at Bellshill home
Man appears in court charged with murder after woman found dead at Bellshill home

Daily Record

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Record

Man appears in court charged with murder after woman found dead at Bellshill home

Pamela Wilson, 45, was found dead within an address on Blairholm Drive in Bellshill on Saturday. A man has appeared in court charged with murder after a woman was found dead at a home near Glasgow. Pamela Wilson, 45, was found within an address on Blairholm Drive in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, at around 7.45am on Saturday, July 5. ‌ At Hamilton Sheriff Court today, William Leckie was charged with murder, assault to injury, breach of the peace and failing to comply with bail conditions. ‌ The 34-year-old made no plea and was remanded in custody. He will appear in court again within the next eight days. The news has left Pamela's loved ones devastated and tributes have flooded in on social media. Pamela's heartbroken daughter Shelly Gordon wrote: "Love you mum." Naomi Friel said: "Rest in eternal peace my sweetest friend. So true you were loved more than you'll ever know. Go find your place with the angels, no more heartache or suffering hun. "GBNF always and forever Pammie doll. You were one in a million sweetheart. Rest in peace. Sending love to all of your family and friends at this horrible time." ‌ Coleen Mcgregor said: "Rest in paradise, Pamela." Janine Gordon added: "She was a great woman." Clare Mcgregor said: "Thinking of you all. There was only one Pammy doll. She left her mark with everyone that knew her, rest in peace Pamela. Back in the arms of your dad." Stacey Mcmillan said: "RIP Pamela. You sure will be missed by a lot of people. Fly high." ‌ Lesley Mcmichael added: "RIP Pamela. You will never be forgotten." The local community were left rocked by the tragedy as news emerged of the incident at the weekend. Floral tributes were left outside the home on the quiet residential street, alongside a Celtic top and scarf. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. ‌ Written on the top, which was placed at the scene by a friend called Joe, were the words: "RIP Pamela. You were loved more than you will ever know. God bless. Sleep tight ma pal." In a statement released on Sunday, officers said they were treating the death as "unexplained" as an investigation was launched. We told how forensics were spotted on the scene alongside a heavy police presence. The front gate of the property could be seen to be taped off while officers stood guard outside the home. Police say a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal following the incident. ‌ Area Commander, Chief Inspector Rebecca Gregson said: 'We are aware the death of Pamela Wilson, will be a shock to our local community. My thoughts are with Pamela's family and friends at this time. 'I would like to confirm an experienced group of detectives is working on this case and a man has been arrested and charged. I would also like to reassure everyone that uniformed officers are in the area and anyone with concerns can speak to them.' Police Scotland spokesperson added: "Around 7.45am on Saturday, 5 July 2025, Pamela Wilson, 45, was found deceased within an address on Blairholm Drive, Bellshill. "A 34-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with her death. He is due to appear at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Monday, 7 July 2025. "A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store