Latest news with #HMPEdinburgh
Daily Record
11-07-2025
- Daily Record
Jail death of Scots paedophile who raped two young girls to be probed by Sheriff
John Barr, 71, died while receiving palliative care at a community hospital in Granton, Edinburgh, on October 5, 2023. A probe is to be held over the prison death of a vile Scottish paedophile who raped and sexually abused two young girls. John Barr, 71, was convicted of four charges of rape and one count of lewd and libidinous practises following a trial in July 2019. The High Court in Edinburgh heard how he inflicted a campaign of terror on the young girls for almost a decade. The victims were targeted at two addresses in Fallin, near Stirling, between October 1983 and October 1991. One of the girls was aged between six and 15 when she was subjected to serious sexual assault at the hands of Barr. The other child was aged between 13 and 18 when she was molested by the beast. His crimes were only brought to light when one of the women, now in her 40s, came forward and reported the abuse to police in November 2017. Investigators then re-opened a previous case from 2003 which involved the other victim. Barr protested his innocence, however, a jury found the beast guilty of the depraved offences. Following his sentencing, Police Scotland Detective Constable David Brown thanked both women for their bravery in reporting their abuser. He said: 'For almost a decade, John Barr preyed on two young girls and committed horrific sexual offences against the pair. Had it not been for their bravery in coming forward his crimes could have gone unpunished. 'Now, however, he will serve a custodial sentence and I wish to thank both women for their continued support of the police investigation. "It is my sincere hope that both can now put their respective ordeals behind them and move on with their lives. "We are committed to bringing all perpetrators for sexual abuse to justice and time is no barrier for our inquiries. We would urge anyone who wishes to report sexual crime, regardless of when it occurred, to contact us so we can conduct a thorough and professional investigation." Barr died while receiving palliative care at a community hospital in Granton, Edinburgh, on October 5, 2023. He had been serving a seven year sentence at HMP Edinburgh. Barr was in legal custody and in the care of the state at the time of his death. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is obliged to investigate such deaths, and a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) is mandatory. A preliminary hearing will be held on July 21 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court before the FAI is heard on November 4 at the same court. The purpose of a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) includes determining the cause of death; the circumstances in which the deaths occurred, and to establish what, if any, reasonable precautions could have been taken, and could be implemented in the future, to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances. 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'. Unlike criminal proceedings, FAIs are inquisitorial in nature, and are used to establish facts rather than to apportion blame. Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on fatalities investigations for COPFS, said: 'The Lord Advocate considers that the death of John Barr occurred while in legal custody and as such a Fatal Accident Inquiry is mandatory. 'The lodging of the First Notice enables FAI proceedings to commence under the direction of the Sheriff.'
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.'
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 Record
25-06-2025
- Daily Record
Scots prison rapper films bizarre music videos from jail cell
Several clips have been uploaded to an Instagram account in recent days of an inmate at a Scots prison in a black balaclava rapping. Bizarre footage has been posted online of a masked Edinburgh prisoner being filmed rapping in his cell. Over the past few days, several clips have been uploaded to an Instagram account of an inmate at HMP Edinburgh in a black balaclava wearing blue gloves as another prisoner films him. In a second video, the individual, dressed in grey, is joined by a second lag as they rap the lyrics of a drill song, reports Edinburgh Live. In the background a white cell door with writing on it is visible as smoke or vapour can also be seen in the air coming from an unknown item the prisoner is holding while rapping. One of the videos is captioned: " HMP freestyle - graveyard shift," as the second prisoner can be seen making gun signs with his hands. The videos, which have been uploaded as reels on Instagram, have received 100 likes each and attracted comments from over a dozen other accounts. After being approached for comment The Scottish Prison Service confirmed staff work hard to deter illicit articles being brought into prison and work tirelessly to prevent items being smuggled behind bars. An SPS spokesperson said: 'We do not comment on individuals. 'Our staff work extremely hard to tackle the introduction of illicit articles and prevent the harm they cause, and we are continuously working to reduce their availability and supply across the prison estate.' Last week, in a separate incident, we reported that two inmates at a Scots prison teamed up to launch a brutal attack on another prisoner, who was left with serious injuries. Daniel Brown, 25, and Jed Duncan, 29, targeted Alan McDonald at HMP Addiewell in West Lothian on September 29, 2023. The pair repeatedly kicked and stamped on him, as well as stabbing him several times with a homemade weapon. They appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday June 12 to be sentenced over the frenzied attack. Both were convicted of assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and danger to life. Both were said to be aggressive towards a prison officer afterwards, approaching him while Duncan was still holding the blade, resulting in a further conviction of threatening or abusive behaviour for both of them. Duncan was also convicted of possessing a bladed article and defeating the ends of justice by attempting to dispose of the weapon. The duo seized McDonald and pulled him by his hair before repeatedly launching kicks at his head and body. They then dragged him to the floor and stamped on his head several times, before stabbing him in the head and neck with the homemade weapon. Brown received a six-year prison sentence, with the court ordering the term to run consecutively to the time he is already serving. He also received a non-harassment order for an indefinite period. 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'.
Edinburgh Live
25-06-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Brazen Edinburgh prisoner raps from Saughton cell in mask as clip posted online
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 Footage has been posted online of an Edinburgh prisoner being filmed rapping in his cell while wearing a balaclava. Several clips have been uploaded to an Instagram account in recent days of an inmate at HMP Edinburgh in a black balaclava wearing blue gloves as another prisoner films him. In a second video, the individual, dressed in grey, is joined by a second lag as they rap the lyrics of a drill song. In the background a white cell door with writing on it is visible as smoke or vapour can also be seen in the air coming from an unknown item the prisoner is holding while rapping. One of the videos is captioned: "HMP freestyle - graveyard shift," as the second prisoner can be seen making gun signs with his hands. The videos, which have been uploaded as reels on Instagram, have received 100 likes each and attracted comments from over a dozen other accounts. After being approached for comment The Scottish Prison Service confirmed staff work hard to deter illicit articles being brought into prison and work tirelessly to prevent items being smuggled behind bars. An SPS spokesperson said: 'We do not comment on individuals. 'Our staff work extremely hard to tackle the introduction of illicit articles and prevent the harm they cause, and we are continuously working to reduce their availability and supply across the prison estate.'
