Convicted Murderer Plots Gun Attack on Edinburgh Prison Officer

Robert Paterson, a convicted murderer serving a life sentence at HMP Edinburgh, plotted a gun attack against a prison officer whom he blamed for delaying his hospital treatment after he claimed to have a heart attack from ingesting cocaine. The officer had grown suspicious of Paterson’s medical emergency due to his history of escape attempts and observed him swallowing a sim card, as well as the arrival of an ambulance not ordered by staff. Paterson was kept under observation before being sent to the hospital, where doctors removed seven bags of cocaine from his abdomen. Angered by the delay and believing his life was put at risk, Paterson used illicit mobile phones to coordinate with people inside and outside the prison to have the officer seriously assaulted. Authorities became concerned about his behavior and installed surveillance in his cell, capturing discussions about the revenge plot. Police intervened before any attack was carried out, and Paterson has since pleaded guilty to directing others to carry out the plan.