Taxi driver wrongly jailed for ten months over murder bid sues Police Scotland

An innocent Glasgow taxi driver has launched legal action against Police Scotland for spending ten months in prison after being “wrongly arrested” as part of a gangland murder bid.

Scott Troy was arrested alongside Liam McDonald and Dylan Haldane after shopkeeper Mohammed Arif was attacked in Pollok on August 13, 2023.

Mr Arif had to have his leg amputated below the knee after being shot and stabbed by a group of masked men wielding machetes and knives.

On the day of the gangland attack, Mr Troy was sent by taxi rank bosses to collect four men from the area.

The 43-year-old was not aware that the group had been involved in the violent attack.

He was arrested at his home 12 days later, accused of being the group’s getaway driver.

Mr Troy claims that his innocence was proven after the taxi rank confirmed that the driver, who had been with them for nearly a decade, was responding to a routine fare.

He appeared in court alongside Haldane and McDonald, accused of being involved in the hit.

All three pled not guilty.

Mr Troy was remanded in custody behind bars at Barlinnie for almost a year before prosecutors agreed that he was not part of the murder plot.

A six-figure legal action in the Court of Session has now been launched against Police Scotland to seek recognition for the psychological harm and the long-term impact on his work and personal life.

Mr Troy explained: “That night I was just doing my usual shift – I had no idea things were going to pan out the way they did.

“It really was the wrong place at the wrong time. When I picked up the four men, I didn’t even think anything untoward was going on.

“The first I knew of any wrongdoing was when the police came to my house and cuffed me on the spot. I was completely innocent, and I pleaded with the officers, but they wouldn’t hear it.

“There was so much evidence to prove I was innocent – they even checked with my boss at the taxi rank, who manages the bookings, so the police knew I was just sent there by chance.

“I was wrongly arrested, spent ten months in Barlinnie, and my name was publicly trashed. That kind of experience changes you.”

McDonald was jailed for 14 years for the attempted murder, whilst Haldane was given 13 years.

Fellow gang member William Dickson pled guilty last year and was later jailed for more than nine years.

Richard Dunn had also stood trial, but jurors returned not-proven verdicts.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “As this is an ongoing legal case it would be inappropriate to comment.”