Scots gangster torched salon linked to kingpin in chilling ‘f*** over my friends’ vow
Logan Carlin, 24, pleaded guilty to setting fire to Belle Cheveux beauty salon and DB Auto Services in Edinburgh on March 6 and March 16 in attacks linked to serious organised crime
A bloke who worked in “marketing and sales” torched a beauty salon part-owned by the partner of a “prominent” figure in Scottish gangland, a court was told. Gangster Logan Carlin, 24, ignited a fire at the Belle Cheveux beauty parlour on Albert Street, Edinburgh, on 6 March 2025.
The high court in Edinburgh heard that witnesses heard male voices outside the shop just after 2am. Prosecutor Leanne McQuillan relayed to judge Lord Summers what neighbours saw from 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. She heard him shout ‘think you can f*** 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.”, reports Edinburgh Live.
“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 details surfaced during a court hearing where Carlin, from Bruntsfield, Edinburgh, admitted guilt to deliberately torching Belle Cheveux.
He also confessed to another charge of intentionally setting fire to DB Auto Services at 101A Milton Street, Edinburgh on March 16 2025. Both offences carried aggravating factors due to connections with serious and organised crime.
On Tuesday, Ms McQuillan briefed Lord Summers about Carlin’s background and criminal behaviour. The defendant was arrested as part of Police Scotland’s Operation Portaledge – a crackdown designed to combat violence that has flared up in recent months across Glasgow and Edinburgh involving the Daniel, Lyons and Richardson criminal organisations.
On Tuesday, Carlin watched proceedings through video link from HMP Saughton in Edinburgh. Ms McQuillan informed Lord Summers that Carlin resided with his mother in Bruntsfield.
She continued: “At that time, he had recently gained employment with a sales and marketing company based in Edinburgh.”
She revealed to the court that Belle Cheveux was situated in Albert Street in the city’s Leith district. Ms McQuillan refrained from naming the OCG group member in court – however, media reports have indicated the premises is connected to Mark Richardson, a convicted drug trafficker serving a 10 year prison term.
She continued: “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 was told that officers discovered DNA evidence matching the defendant on the salon’s windowsill. He had prior convictions for motoring offences and bail violations.
Investigators also established that the defendant’s mobile phone had connected to local masts on the evening of the incident – proving his presence in the vicinity that night.
The court then learned that on March 16, a Ford Eco Sport with false plates, which had been arrested in January 2025, was driven towards DB Auto Services.
Ms McQuillan explained that the business belonged to the father of the “owner of the beauty salon”.
Regarding this incident, Ms McQuillan continued: “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.”
Emergency services rushed to the scene and doused the flames.
Once again, officers discovered Carlin’s DNA at the location, along with the abandoned white Ford bearing fake number 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 stated that he’d reserve his mitigation for Carlin until a hearing next year. Lord Summers postponed Carlin’s sentencing to a hearing set to take place early next year.
