Jailed killer ordered gun attack on Edinburgh prison officer

A jailed killer ordered a revenge gun attack on a prison officer he believed left him to die, a court has heard.

Robert Paterson, 45, was serving life for murder in HMP Edinburgh when he told guards he was having a heart attack on 15 November 2022.

But the officer prevented Paterson from going to hospital until hours later, where doctors removed bags of cocaine that they found in his stomach.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Paterson admitted ordering people to obtain a handgun and ammo to attack the prison officer.

He was appearing in court on several charges including directing others to carry out assaults, robberies and supply drugs into the prison.

The court was told that the prison officer became suspicious of Paterson, after he claimed he had taken cocaine and believed he was having a heart attack.

The officer was aware of a separate incident involving Paterson in 2012, where he planned to escape from jail whilst being treated at hospital.

He also saw him remove a sim card from a mobile phone and swallow it.

And he was told that an ambulance had arrived at HMP Edinburgh that had not been ordered by staff.

The officer agreed with paramedics to monitor Paterson at the jail before sending him to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at 08:00.

Prosecutor Alan Cameron KC told the court that Paterson complained when he returned to jail, as medics said the cocaine bags could have burst in his stomach.

Mr 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 became concerned about Paterson’s behaviour and in February 2023 installed a surveillance device in his cell.

Paterson was recorded discussing a plan to attack the officer.

Mr Cameron added: “Fortunately, the police intervened and no attempt to was actually made to assault the officer who was entirely unaware until told by police.”

Paterson was serving a life term for murder at HMP Edinburgh after shooting a man in a street in Cumbernauld in 2008.

Details of the revenge plot emerged after Paterson pleaded guilty to directing two men, Sean McGregor and Donald Stone, and others to supply drugs into the jail.

He also ordered them to rob people of drugs, watches and a sum of money.

Paterson also admitted directing others to assault the prison officer and, for that purpose, obtain a handgun, ammunition and a vehicle.

Stone pleaded guilty to being involved in serious organised crime. McGregor admitted a charge of arranging to carry out an assault and robbery.

A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: “We welcome these convictions and are grateful to all who worked so hard to secure them.

“The safety of our staff is absolutely paramount, and we will always work closely with partners across the justice sector to ensure this continues to be a key priority.”

Judge Lord Harrower deferred sentence on the three men until 30 May.