An former terror gang member has been jailed after a masked home invasion attack.
Edward Lindsay, 36, was one of a group accused of dragging a man from his house in Anstruther and beating him up in the street.
Lindsay, of Mayview Avenue, Anstruther was previously jailed for his role in an Edinburgh drugs ring, purportedly part of the Ulster Volunteer Force.
He stood trial with Jeffrey Fry, 53, of Venus Place, Anstruther,, Scott Murray, 40, of St Abbs Crescent, Pittenweem, and Lee Johnston, 28, of George Street, Cellardyke,
The court heard Fry had an altercation in a pub with a man called Shane Pender, and told Johnston before the pair summoned Lindsay and Murray to go to Mr Pender’s home.
Once there the living room window was smashed with a brick before Lindsay, who had covered his face with either a balaclava or a scarf, and Murray started battering the door.
Shane Pender’s father, Paul Pender, 43, was dragged from the property and he was subjected to a brutal beating.
Mr Pender Snr told a jury at Dundee Sheriff Court the sustained attack only stopped when a witness claimed to have seen a meat cleaver in Lindsay’s possession and said they were calling the police.
A charge that Lindsay was in possession of the knife was found not proven.
Mr Pender, a Fife Council caretaker, said: “After that all four all of them jumped over the fence and were trying to apologise to me. It was actually my son they were after, not me.
“Shortly after that Lee Johnston came to my door and said he was apologising and wanted to sort it out. The police sirens could be heard in the distance and they just disappeared at that. I was shaken up.
“I had injuries to my head, chest, face and back – cuts and bruises mostly.
“I had to go on sleeping tablets because I couldn’t get to sleep after that and I was off work for a month and a half.”
Fry had his not guilty plea accepted at the close of the Crown case while Johnston was found not guilty by the jury.
After deliberating for just over an hour the jury found Lindsay and Murray guilty of the assault by a majority.
Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson said: “Accused Lindsay had a number of previous High Court convictions including one from 2003 where he received 10 years for convictions including an abduction.”
Sheriff Simon Collins QC jailed Lindsay for 18 months and Murray, who has a lesser criminal record, for 13 months.
A history of brutality
Edward Lindsay previously served a 10-year jail term for his part in what was claimed to be an Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) cell operating a drugs ring in Edinburgh.
The gang was operated by David McLeave from three Edinburgh tower blocks and set about creating a reputation for themselves as high-ranking members of the UVF.
They used paramiltary-style violence including punishment beatings, kidnappings and murder threats to operate their syndicate.
Claiming to have the backing of leaders of the Belfast wing of the feared paramilitary organisation, they used intimidation and horrific violence to muscle in on the drugs trade in the west side of the city.
Fuelling the rumours by carrying out a series of barbaric paramilitary-style beatings, McLeave led his gang by using everything from his bare fists to metal coshes to target both drug users and dealers.
In one of his most terrifying attacks, McLeave held down a victim he had previously drugged before pouring aftershave over his head and lighting it.
He then stripped the victim and assaulted him with a cosh and spoon, before lighting the gas from an aerosol can and spraying the burning liquid across his face and body.
In 2003, McLeave was jailed for 14 years for assault and drug dealing. His gang, including Lindsay, were jailed for a total of more than 60 years.
Lindsay was convicted for his part in an abduction in which the victim was grabbed, hooded, bundled into a car and subjected to severe violence.
He was released in 2009 and set up home in the peaceful fishing village of Anstruther, taking up a job as a chef in St Andrews.
Sources in Northern Ireland said there was no basis to believe the group were in fact connected to the UVF but were using the name to create fear.
