This is the first prosecution under Police Scotland’s<\/a><\/strong> Operation Portaledge, which was launched in response to gang violence that blighted the east and west of the country earlier this year.<\/p>\n Judge Lord Arthurson told McDermid only a “significant custodial disposal” would be appropriate in the case.<\/p>\n In his sentencing statement, the judge said: “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.<\/p>\n “The citizens of Edinburgh have been understandably and indeed rightly concerned by the recent upsurge in such criminality in their communities.<\/p>\n “In these exceptional circumstances, there requires accordingly, in my view, to be some degree of exemplary component in respect of the sentence to be imposed upon you today.<\/p>\n “This offence was planned and coordinated, and had clear links to serious and organised criminal activities.”<\/p>\n A court earlier heard how McDermid was observed by police surveillance officers getting a taxi to Edinburgh’s Roseburn Street on 5 June.<\/p>\n After visiting a shop, he was watched as he made his way to the Roseburn Path area of the Scottish capital.<\/p>\n Roseburn Path is a former railway line surrounded by dense shrubland and trees, and now serves as a popular walking and cycling route.<\/p>\n McDermid disappeared from view before emerging from the bushes with his face covered and with a metal detector.<\/p>\n He ditched the device after being unable to find the gun and was seen speaking on a black iPhone.<\/p>\n Officers swooped in to detain McDermid, and he was found to have gloves, a balaclava, and \u00a3320 in his possession.<\/p>\n Analysis of his mobile phone found he had carried out Google searches on how to use a metal detector, and text messages sent to another person included him saying he was going to “Gorgie to find that thing for him”.<\/p>\n The metal detector was recovered by officers, and a few days later, on 11 June, officers found the firearm and a magazine containing 10 rounds of 9mm bullets.<\/p>\n Image: Lord Arthurson noted how the potentially lethal weapon was discovered during term time near to a nursery and junior buildings of a school.<\/p>\n McDermid last month pleaded guilty to a charge of being involved in serious organised crime. He returned to the High Court in Edinburgh for sentencing on Thursday.<\/p>\n Lord Arthurson highlighted the criminal’s lengthy record and noted how he was the subject of a restriction of liberty order (RLO) at the time of the gun incident.<\/p>\n Despite multiple convictions, up until now, he had never served a custodial sentence.<\/p>\n The judge noted the defendant’s history of cocaine misuse and adverse childhood experiences, adding: “You have a misplaced sense of loyalty to your criminal peers.”<\/p>\n McDermid, who was said to have expressed remorse for his offending, was jailed for six years and nine months.<\/p>\n Read more from Sky News:![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/skynews-police-scotland-operation-portaledge_7086706.png\")
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\n A magazine containing 9mm bullets was also recovered as part of Operation Portaledge. Pic: Crown Office<\/p>\n
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