Thugs posed as undercover Edinburgh detectives before brutally attacking a teenage boy

Thugs who posed as undercover detectives before brutally attacking a teenage boy have been jailed for a total of almost 12 years.

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Greg Duffy and David Melbourne pounced on the 17 year-old including trying to hack off his finger.

He was targeted after he reported a suspected drug dealer to police.

Details of the brutal case were heard at the High Court in Paisley

The pair also turned on Andrew McDonald, 41, who was at the flat in Dalry, Edinburgh on August 22 2020.

Duffy, 23, and Melbourne, 33, were sentenced at the High Court in Paisley.

Duffy was locked up for five years and eight months with Melbourne jailed for six years.

They had earlier pled guilty to assaulting the teenager to his severe injury as well as to his permanent disfigurement and impairment.

The duo further admitted attacking Mr McDonald to his injury.

A previous hearing in Glasgow heard the 17 year-old's younger sister had got involved with a man he did not "approve" of.

Prosecutor Jo McDonald said: "It was his belief the male was providing her with drugs.

"On August 14 2020, the boy saw postings on social media which he believed confirmed this.

"He then reported this to police. Officers spoke to the male concerned."

The teenager went on to receive threats after this and was the subject of an apparent malicious assault allegation.

On the night of the attacks, the boy was at the flat in the capital's Duff Street with Mr McDonald when a mutual friend turned up.

Miss McDonald: "He was allowed into the flat by the 17 year-old, who described Duffy and Melbourne following him in.

"He did not recognise them. They indicated they were undercover police officers looking for a man called Charlie."

The thugs then went into "attack mode" and bundled both victims into a bedroom before ransacking drawers and demanding jewellery, laptops and phones.

Duffy punched Mr McDonald, stabbed him with scissors as well as booting him on the head and body.

The duo turned on the 17 year-old who blacked out briefly.

Duffy also used the scissors to strike the boy on the face and back.

Miss McDonald then went on: "He took the teenager's hand and tried to cut off his index finger, but he was unsuccessful due to police arriving at the front door."

It was the victims' shocked friend who had dialled 999.

Officers found the attackers still in the flat. Both the boy and Mr McDonald were badly hurt.

Melbourne told police there had been an "argument" between Duffy and others.

The 17 year-old suffered a series of wounds and has been left with no feeling in his finger as a result of nerve damage.

Mr McDonald's injuries included a nose fracture.

The court was told the attackers are serial criminals both having spent time in jail.

Duffy's sentence was cut from eight and a half years due to his guilty pleas with Melbourne's reduced from eight years.

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