Nicky Robertson discharged three shots from a Glock handgun into the window of a property in Niddrie Marischal Crescent, in Edinburgh.
12:00, 11 Dec 2025Updated 12:40, 11 Dec 2025
The scene in Edinburgh(Image: Edinburgh Live)
A gunman who was filmed firing live rounds into a home of an associate of Edinburgh kingpin Mark Richardson was facing a lengthy jail sentence today.
Nicky Robertson discharged three shots from a Glock handgun into the window of a property in Niddrie Marischal Crescent, in Edinburgh, in an early morning shooting. Robertson, 39, who was previously jailed for 10 years for carrying out an attempted murder with a sawn off shotgun, was told by a judge that his crimes in his latest offending were “matters of very real public concern”.
Robertson admitted culpably and recklessly firing three rounds of live ammunition through a ground floor window at the property on Niddrie Marischal Crescent on March 20 this year, when he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh. He also pleaded guilty to three Firearms Act offences, including illegal possession of the Glock and ammunition between February 24 and April 14 this year at addresses in South Queensferry, near Edinburgh.
Advocate depute John Keenan KC told the court: “The police investigation in this case forms part of the wider police operation in relation to a recently reported outbreak of violence in Edinburgh.”
(Image: Edinburgh Live)
The prosecutor said that in the early hours of March 20 a neighbour heard three loud bangs in the street and made a 999 call.
He said: “Police attended and saw three circular holes in the ground floor window. They also recovered three gold coloured bullet casing on the road outside.”
“They entered the property which was unlocked but found it empty. They saw bullet holes in the living room wall and kitchen door,” he said.
Mr Keenan said the address was occupied by Patrick Beatson, an associate of Edinburgh kingpin Mark Richardson. Contact was made with the occupier and he attended a police station. He confirmed that he was at home alone when the shooting occurred and his children were elsewhere at the time.
Mr Keenan said: “He allowed the police to search his house, but would provide no further information.”
The prosecutor said: “In the days after the incident a video was circulated on social media showing a male wearing dark clothing running towards the locus and firing three shots with a handgun.”
Footage of the gun crime was shown to the court. He said CCTV footage that was recovered showed a white BMW 1 series car turning into the cul de sac before and individual emerged from the passenger side and ran towards the scene of the shooting. Loud bangs could be heard.
Forensic officers at the scene(Image: Edinburgh Live)
The car was tracked on CCTV to Dalmeny, near South Queensferry, where it was found burnt out at a cycle path. It was discovered that it was sold by a previous owner on March 9 this year to two unknown males for pounds 1700. Mr Keenan said that following the shooting police armed with a warrant searched Robertson’s address at Craws Close, in South Queensferry, and seized four mobile phones.
He said: “From one of the phones an image was recovered showing the accused holding a black Glock style handgun. Other images contained within the phone show the Glock handgun being held by a hand wearing a surgical glove and the magazine removed with brass casings visible.”
Cached images that were recovered showed stills from the video circulated on social media. Mr Keenan said on April 17 this year police were carrying out enquiries into two fire attacks when they carried out a search at a house in Crewe Road Gardens, in Edinburgh, where they found a bin bag under a sofa containing the pistol used in the earlier shooting. The court heard that father-of-two Robertson was arrested and gave a ‘no comment’ interview to detectives.
Defence counsel Mark Stewart KC told the court that the background to the shooting was a former friendship which “went wrong a number of years ago”.
He said there had been ongoing difficulties and animosity between the accused and the householder at the address. Mr Stewart said that Robertson understood that he faced a significant custodial sentence.
The judge, Lord Weir, told Robertson, who followed proceedings via a video link to prison: “The charges to which you have pleaded guilty and the agreed circumstances in which they arose raise matters of very real public concern.”
He adjourned sentence until January 14 for the preparation of a background report and risk assessment on Robertson. Robertson has previous convictions for serious assault, possession of weapons and attempted murder. In 2007 he was jailed at the High Court for 10 years for shooting a former youth footballer in a murder bid.
Robertson discharged a sawn off shotgun at Jamie Ewart outside the Clermiston Inn in Edinburgh and hit him on the arm. The victim was celebrating Hibs victory in the CIS cup final when the attack occurred.
Police Scotland has arrested 62 people under their Operation Portaledge probe into the gang war in the west and east of Scotland.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry, Specialist Crime Division, said: “While this was established as a targeted attack, it was a concerning incident for the local community.
“Through the hard work of the officers involved in Operation Portaledge we were able to recover the firearm involved and ultimately bring the man responsible to justice.
“This conviction highlights Police Scotland’s commitment to the Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce and its national strategy.”