'Useful idiot' who firebombed Edinburgh businesses in gangland feud jailed

A man described by his own lawyer as a "useful idiot" who set fire to businesses as part of a gangland feud has been jailed for more than seven years.

Logan Carlin, 24, launched bottles filled with accelerant into two properties in Edinburgh in March 2025 as part of an effort to intimidate a rival gang.

He first targeted Belle Cheveux beauty salon in Albert Street on 6 March before going on to torch DB Auto Services in Milton Road East 10 days later.

The High Court in Edinburgh was told that the salon was part-owned by someone connected to an organised crime group and the attack could have put nearby residents in "mortal danger".

The salon is thought to have been the first to be targeted with such an attack in a violent feud between rival gangs, which saw a number of incidents in the east and west of Scotland.

Carlin, who appeared by video link on Monday, had earlier admitted two charges of wilful fire-raising.

His defence lawyer, Andrew Crosbie, said his client came from a "supportive" family and recognised that he had made poor choices last year.

Mr Crosbie said Carlin "seems to have been something of a useful idiot" compared to better-connected members of the gang.

He added: "It's an archetypical case of someone who has sadly made very poor decisions over a short period of time."

Mr Crosbie said his client recognised the need to take responsibility for his actions. Issuing his sentence, Lord Summers said the crimes were aggravated by Carlin's links to organised crime.

The salon was "part-owned by a person with links to a serious organised crime group", the judge said.

He added: "The purpose of your attack was to intimidate rivals."

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Lord Summers noted that there were residential flats in the same building, adding: "Had that fire taken hold, the residents of the property above would have been in mortal danger."

The second property was also owned by someone with links to serious organised crime, the judge said. Carlin's attack was said to have caused "significant damage" to the property.

Lord Summers said he took into account the legislation on serious organised crime, as well as the youth sentencing guidelines as Carlin was 23 at the time of the offences and is still under 25.

He imposed a sentence of seven years and four months, backdated to 8 April 2025.

Carlin's arrest was part of Police Scotland's Operation Portaledge, which is investigating gang activity and violent incidents which have taken place in the east and west of the country.

(c) Sky News 2026: 'Useful idiot' who firebombed Edinburgh businesses in gangland feud jailed