Shaun McKinnon: Thug who 'ruled through fear and intimidation' convicted after 'torturing' other gang members

A violent gangland figure involved in a £2,000-a-day drug operation who tortured other members of the crime mob has been convicted.

Shaun McKinnon ran a network of dealers who were part of the Edinburgh-based clan, but a judge heard how the 35-year-old turned on associates he believed had crossed him.

This included him tying up and 'waterboarding' two victims - described by one as 'pure torture'.

McKinnon – who already had previous high court drugs and money laundering convictions – had been due to stand trial at the High Court in Glasgow but instead pled guilty to a charge of directing others to commit an offence aggravated by a connection with serious organised crime.

He will be sentenced next month for the charge which spanned between January 1, 2019 and July 23, 2020.

Addresses central to the drug dealing included flats at Forteviot House in Edinburgh's Moredun as well as in Marytree House in the Capital's Craigour Green.

Four addicts - also vulnerable due to mounting drug debts - were targeted by the gangland mob.

Prosecutor Blair Speed said: "McKinnon was their dealer and was part of an organised crime group.

Shaun McKinnon: Man who 'ruled through fear and intimidation' convicted after he 'tortured' other gang members

"Drugs were sourced from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Manchester for preparation, sub-division and sale in the area of the capital by each of these (four) witnesses."

They estimated the huge drug trafficking operation to rake in between £1,000-£2,000 a day from sale of cocaine and heroin.

But, the court heard this did not take in the "larger deals" McKinnon was part of or times where the illegal trade was quieter.

The four all ended up in fear of McKinnon which "escalated to actual violence" when in May 2020 McKinnon believed two of them had stolen drugs.

One had his hands tied and then a kettle of roasting water poured over his head, before being subjected to ‘waterboarding’ by the thug.

Mr Speed continued: "He was instructed to lie on a coffee table in the shower. A towel was placed over his face before water was applied from the shower for 15 minutes.

"He described the effect as 'pure, pure torture'."

The other man watched in horror. McKinnon told him: "You are going to have to get what he got.

"You are going to need to stand there and take it."

This man then went through a similar 20-minute ordeal, which included boiling water poured on his back.

Mr Speed said he described the pain as being “unbelievable”.

One of the other men was repeatedly smacked with a beer bottle in July 2020 with McKinnon threatening to "cut his face open".

Following an intelligence-led operation, police officers carried out raids in June and July 2020.

McKinnon was held at one of the flats in Forteviot House where officers seized a hydraulic press and other drug-related items.

Cocaine with a potential value of £16,365 was also discovered.

Co-accused Samantha McCafferty, 35, whose role was to “record” drugs which were supplied and debts built up, was also arrested during the raids.

She was found with £1080 at a police station, which she claimed came from winning at bingo.

McCafferty pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin.

Lord Harrower remanded McKinnon in custody, but continued bail for McCafferty.

They are due to be sentenced on March 13 in Edinburgh.

Detective Inspector Bob Campbell said: “This case had a huge impact on the people of Moredun and the South of Edinburgh. These two ruled through fear and intimidation, thinking they were above the law. Their arrests prove they are not untouchable and we welcome today's conviction.

“We are committed to disrupting the illegal and harmful supply of drugs in our communities. We will use every tool and tactic at our disposal to remove these illegal substances from our streets.

“We hope this sends a clear message to those involved in the supply of drugs that they can expect to be targeted by law enforcement. They certainly should not be making a profit off the misery and harm that drugs cause in our communities.”

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