Logan Carlin pleaded guilty to a charge of wilfully setting fire to Belle Cheveux in Albert Street, Edinburgh, on March 6.
Masked assailant torches Edinburgh salon
A man who worked in “marketing and sales” set fire to a beauty salon part owned by the partner of a “prominent” figure in Scots gangland, a court heard.
Gangster Logan Carlin, 24, started a blaze at the Belle Cheveux beauty parlour in Albert Street, Edinburgh, on March 6 2025. The high court in the Scottish capital heard how witnesses heard male voices outside the shop shortly after 2am.
Prosecutor Leanne McQuillan told judge Lord Summers of what they saw as neighbours looked out their windows. She said: “One neighbour looked out her window and heard another bang and shattering glass.
“She could see one male in the street smashing the window of the locus which took about five attempts. The male then picked up an item from the ground which she thought looked like a bottle with a tissue or towel within it, lit the tissue and threw it into the locus.
Edinburgh crime boss Mark Richardson(Image: Police Scotland)
“She heard him shout ‘think you can f**k over my pals’. She called 999. She then heard the screech of either a car or a motorbike heading in the direction of Easter Road.
“She could identify the male as having a local Edinburgh accent, average build 20s to 30s and wearing a dark or navy hooded tracksuit. The police and fire service attended and residents were evacuated from the neighbouring properties.
“Three fire engines and nine fire officers were in attendance. The fire was extinguished within five minutes.”
The story emerged during a hearing in which Carlin, of Bruntsfield, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to a charge of wilfully setting fire to Belle Cheveux. He also admitted another charge of wilfully setting fire to DB Auto Services at 101A Milton Street, Edinburgh on March 16 2025. The offences were aggravated by links to serious and organised crime.
On Tuesday, Ms McQuillan told Lord Summers of Carlin’s personal circumstances and his criminal conduct.
The accused was arrested as part of Police Scotland’s Operation Portaledge – an initiative set up to tackle violence which has erupted in recent months in Glasgow and Edinburgh involving the Daniel, Lyons and Richardson crime gangs.
High Court Edinburgh.(Image: Daily Record)
On Tuesday, Carlin observed proceedings via video link from HMP Saughton in Edinburgh. Ms McQuillan told Lord Summers that Carlin lived with his mum in Bruntsfield.
She added: “At that time, he had recently gained employment with a sales and marketing company based in Edinburgh.”
She told the court that Belle Cheveux was in Albert Street in the city’s Leith area. Ms McQuillan didn’t name the OCG group member in court – however, press reports have stated the premises is linked to Mark Richardson, a convicted drug dealer serving a 10 year jail sentence.
She added: “This is a beauty salon part owned by the partner of a prominent member of an organised crime group. That individual is currently in custody serving a sentence.”
The court heard that police recovered DNA matching the accused from the windowsill of the salon. He had previous convictions for road traffic offences and breaching bail.
Police also investigating the accused also found that his mobile phone on the night of the offence connected to masts in the area of the crime – this showed that he was in the area on the night in question.
The court then heard that on March 16, a Ford Eco Sport VRM which had been stolen in January 2025, drove towards DB Auto Services.
Ms McQuillan said that the business was owned by the father of the “owner of the beauty salon”.
Speaking about this offence, Ms McQuillan added: “Around 5.40am on March 16 2025, the tenant of the premises was at the locus in his car.
“He heard glass smash and saw a male throw a petrol bomb into the locus before speeding off in a white SUV vehicle.”
The fire service was called to the scene and the blaze was extinguished. Officers once again found Carlin’s DNA at the scene and the white Ford which was left abandoned with false registration plates in Edinburgh’s Whitson Way.
Ms McQuillan added: “DNA matching the accused was found on the steering wheel, gearstick, handbrake and interior door handle of the white Ford Eco Sport.
“The accused was arrested on April 7 2025 following the discovery of the DNA. He was interviewed but made no reply.”
Defence advocate Andrew Crosbie said he’d reserve his mitigation for Carlin until a hearing next year.
Lord Summers deferred sentence on Carlin until a hearing which will be held early next year.
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