A man labelled by his own defence lawyer as a 'useful idiot' has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison for firebombing businesses in Edinburgh as part of a violent gangland feud. Logan Carlin, 24, carried out the attacks in March 2025, targeting properties linked to rival organised crime groups.
Details of the Firebombing Incidents
Carlin launched bottles filled with accelerant into two properties in the city. The first target was the Belle Cheveux beauty salon on Albert Street on 6 March 2025. Ten days later, he torched DB Auto Services on Milton Road East. The High Court in Edinburgh heard that these attacks were intended to intimidate rivals in an ongoing feud between gangs in eastern and western Scotland.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Appearing by video link on Monday, Carlin had previously admitted to two charges of wilful fire-raising. His defence lawyer, Andrew Crosbie, stated that Carlin came from a supportive family but had made poor choices during the period of the offences. Crosbie described his client as an archetypical case of someone who acted as a useful idiot compared to more connected gang members.
In sentencing, Lord Summers highlighted the aggravated nature of the crimes due to Carlin's links to organised crime. The judge noted that the beauty salon was part-owned by an individual connected to a serious organised crime group, and the attack could have put nearby residents in mortal danger, as there were residential flats in the same building.
Impact and Legal Context
The second property, DB Auto Services, was also owned by someone with ties to organised crime, and the fire caused significant damage. Lord Summers considered legislation on serious organised crime and youth sentencing guidelines, as Carlin was 23 at the time of the offences. The sentence of seven years and four months was backdated to 8 April 2025.
Carlin's arrest was part of Police Scotland's Operation Portaledge, which investigates gang activity and violent incidents across the country. This case underscores the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in tackling organised crime feuds in urban areas like Edinburgh.
