Gunman admits shooting at house window in gangland feud

A man has admitted firing a handgun at a house in Edinburgh during a gangland feud in central Scotland.

Nicky Robertson fired three shots from a Glock handgun into the window of a property in Niddrie Marischal Crescent in March.

Prosecutors told the High Court in Edinburgh a video of Robertson firing the three shots was circulated on social media.

Police found images from the video on one of his phones, along with a picture of him holding the weapon.

The 39-year-old's defence counsel said the shooting was the result of personal animosity between Robertson and the householder, who was not injured in the incident.

Robertson, who was previously jailed for 10 years for carrying out an attempted murder with a sawn off shotgun, was told by the judge, Lord Weir, 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 in Niddrie Marischal Crescent on 20 March.

He also pleaded guilty to three Firearms Act offences, including illegal possession of the Glock and ammunition between 24 February and 14 April 2025 at addresses in South Queensferry.

Advocate depute John Keenan KC told the court in the early hours of 20 March a neighbour heard three loud bangs in the street and made a 999 call.

Police found three circular holes in the ground floor window and recovered three gold coloured bullet casings 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. Contact was made with the occupier and he attended a police station.

He confirmed 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."

Footage of the gun crime was shown to the court.

It showed a white BMW car turning into the cul-de-sac before an individual emerged from the passenger side and ran towards the scene of the shooting.

Loud bangs could be heard.

The car was tracked on CCTV to Dalmeny, near South Queensferry, where it was found burnt out at a cycle path.

Defence counsel Mark Stewart KC told the court Robertson understood he faced a significant custodial sentence.

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."

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.

Det Ch Supt Dave Ferry, of Police Scotland, said: "While this was established as a targeted attack, it was a concerning incident for the local community."

He will be sentenced on 14 January.