Gangster who used metal detector to find hidden pistol amid Central Belt gang war jailed

A gangster who used a metal detector to try to find a hidden deadly Glock pistol during recent gang violence has been jailed for six years and nine months.

Liam McDermid, 25, used the device to try to secure the firearm which had been hidden in undergrowth at Edinburgh’s Roseburn cycle path.

Edinburgh High Court heard how the weapon – and multiple rounds of lethal 9mm ammunition – was recovered by police close to the nursery and junior buildings of St George’s school. Officers found the Glock on June 11 this year.

McDermid, of Edinburgh, was seen on the path on June 5 this year with the metal detector, looking for the device.

He was later arrested and McDermid, who has 25 previous convictions, became the first gangster to be prosecuted as a consequence of Police Scotland’s Operation Portaledge. The initiative was launched to tackle gangland activity associated with the Daniel, Lyons and Richardson crime gangs.

On Thursday, defence advocate Brian McConnachie KC told the court how his client feared he had found the weapon. Mr McConnachie said he obtained a “positive hit” with the metal detector but decided to stop searching for the gun at that point in time.

Mr McConnachie added: “It seems the reality of what he was involved in dawned on him.”

However, Lord Arthurson told McDermid he needed to go to prison his crimes.

He said: “It is plain on any view that only a significant custodial disposal can be considered to be appropriate in this matter.

“The public interest in suppressing and punishing such serious organised criminal activity is extremely high, particularly so when, as in this case, lethal weapons are involved.

“The citizens of Edinburgh have been understandably and indeed rightly concerned by the recent upsurge of such criminality in their communities.

“In these exceptional circumstances, there requires accordingly, in my view, to be some degree of exemplary component in respect to the sentence to be imposed upon you today.

“This offence was planned and coordinated, and it is clear that there are links to serious and organised criminal activities.

“You used a metal detector, an iPhone and a balaclava as you undertook your task.

“The weapon which was the subject of your search was subsequently found to be located in an area in proximity with nursery and junior school buildings, which buildings were doubtless populated on a term time school day with young children.”

The story emerged after McDermid pleaded guilty earlier this year to a charge of being involved in serious organised crime.

The charge stated that he agreed “with others meantime to the prosecutor unknown to do something” that he knew “or suspected or ought to have reasonable known” would “enable or further the commission of serious organised crime” by agreeing to go to Roseburn Path.

He admitted using a metal detector and to searching within the undergrowth for a Glock “semi automatic firearm and nine cartridges”. McDermid also admitted to engaging in “communications with others regarding the whereabouts and recovery of” the Glock.

Describing McDermid’s role in the affair at earlier proceedings, prosecutor David Dickson KC said: “The police surveillance operation which led to the accused being observed in possession of a metal detector in the area where the firearm was recovered forms part of the wider police operation in relation to recently reported organised crime activity in Edinburgh.

“The locus is a disused railway line which has been converted into a popular cycle path. The path has steep embankments on either side that are covered in dense shrub land and trees.

“The point on the path where the firearm was recovered was near the nursery and junior school buildings of St George’s school.”

Mr Dickson said that police surveillance officers observed McDermid take a taxi at 3.28pm from an address in Edinburgh to the city’s Roseburn Street. He was seen going into a shop and came out – officers saw him scanning the street looking up and down.

He then re-entered the shop before coming out and walked towards Wester Coates Terrace where he was seen to enter the Roseburn cycle path.

Mr Dickson said: “The accused disappeared from view before emerging from bushes with his face covered and holding a metal detector in his right hand.”

At 4.41pm, McDermid was seen around 100 yards from the Ravelston Dykes viaduct in a large area of bushes.

Mr Dickson added: “He was moving about in the bushes. About ten minutes later he emerged from the bushes and was observed to be in possession of a black iPhone. He no longer had the metal detector. He was observed speaking on the phone. He ran and stopped at a bench approximately 300 metres before the exit to Ravelston Dykes.”

Mr Dickson said officers detained McDermid at 4.54pm on June 5. He was searched and officers found gloves, a balaclava and £320 cash.

Police then shut the path to the public and conducted a search. They found the metal detector and then on June 11, 2025, they found the gun that McDermid had been searching for.

Mr Dickson added: “Whilst the undergrowth was being cleared a gun was recovered. Further examination resulted in a magazine which was attached to the grip of the firearm being recovered.

“It was removed and examination of the magazine disclosed it contained ten rounds of 9mm ammunition.

“An officer racked the top slide of the weapon three times locking the parts to the rear, exposing the breach of the weapon and which showed the weapon was not made ready and there was no bullet in the chamber.

“The component parts of the firearm were in good working order and there were no signs of wear and tear.

Meanwhile, police officers examined the phone seized from McDermid.

Mr Dickson added: “He messages saying ‘am gonna go up to fortify for… Gorgie to find that thing for him.‘

“He received a message which said ‘any luck’ to which he replied ‘No even try Google find out some sort of knowledge on what to do.”

Mr Dickson said that on June 5 – the day he was seen with the metal detector – McDermid made searches on his phone’s internet browser.

He added: “The searches were on how to use a metal detector including ‘settings to find metal on metal detector’, ‘how to use metal detector’ and ‘do you need the headphone for metal detector’.”

On Thursday, Mr McConnachie said McDermid had told him about his fears that he had found the weapon during the conversation.

He said: “He has told me when he was searching for it, he got a positive hit on the metal detector.”

The defence advocate said that another person had approached McDermid and asked him to recover the item.

Lord Arthurson told McDermid that he took into consideration the accused’s personal circumstances in determining what sentence to impose.

He added: “You have a history of cocaine misuse, you have a supportive relationship with your partner.

“You appear to have suffered certain adverse childhood experiences.

“You have a misplaced sense of loyalty to your criminal peers, you have had certain mental health issues, you have expressed remorse for your offending in this case.”

McDermid was then taken away to begin his sentence.