Father and son who tortured and murdered men with blowtorch jailed for life

A father and son who murdered and mutilated two men with a blowtorch have been jailed for life.

Ian MacLeod, 66, and Dean MacLeod, 42, attacked their victims with machetes, hammers and a Stanley knife at a flat in Edinburgh.

They murdered Derek Johnston, 37, and Desmond Rowlings, 66, at Ian MacLeod’s home at Greendykes House in the Craigmillar area of the city between October 30 and November 1 in 2022.

Both victims were disfigured with their ears were severed and letters burned on them with a blowtorch.

The pair admitted murdering their victims at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Warning: This article contains details that some readers may find distressing

‘Actions of monsters’

Murdered: Desmond Rowlings, 66, and Derek Johnston, 37. Police Scotland

The court heard the father and son killed Mr Johnston by repeatedly striking him on the head with a machete and a Stanley knife.

They repeatedly hit him on the head with a hammer, left it embedded in his head, and burned the letters YLT into his forehead.

They cut off an ear and part of his nose and forced nails into his eyes.

The MacLeods admitted murdering Mr Rowlings after repeatedly striking him with a Stanley knife and machetes and hitting him with a hammer.

He had the letters YLT, VT and YT burnt into his body with a blowtorch and parts of his nose, upper lip and both ears were cut off.

A judge ordered the pair should serve at least 34 years in jail before they can even apply to be released on parole.

Lord Arthurson endorsed the words of one bereaved family member who described the murders as “the cowardly actions of monsters”.

Mr Johnston’s sister Pamela Johnston and his mum Angela Couzens issued a statement “to ensure that Derek’s character and the huge loss our family is left with is not under represented”.

“We were so proud of him – and although he was not without his own struggles in life, he battled on with inspirational resilience,” they said.

““He was a dearly loved friend and neighbour and well known in Edinburgh for his cheeky chappy character.

“We could never quantify the depth of pain and despair we are in, suffering the loss of Derek. We love him beyond measure and he will continue to live on in our hearts and do good for others in all we do.

“We no longer see the world the same as we did before, and we never will.”