Man jailed for role in 'brutal' gangland machete attack

A man who admitted being part of a machete attack on a crime boss associate during a gangland feud has been jailed for five years.

Anthony Brown, 50, was part of a group who ambushed David McMillan outside his Edinburgh home in May 2025.

McMillan - who had links to underworld figure Mark Richardson - survived the attack after a security guard he had hired to keep watch at his house stepped in to save him.

During sentencing, judge Lady Drummond said it was a "brutal attack" that was "planned and violent".

Brown had earlier pleaded guilty to assaulting McMillan with others to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and the danger of his life.

The judge told him: "It was a planned and violent offence carried by one crime group on another in a well-established feud between the two of them.

"It was a brutal attack having seen it myself on CCTV."

In December, Arran Reid was jailed for eight years and four months after pleading guilty to his role in the attack.

And in April, getaway driver Joshua Stewart was jailed for three years and eight months after admitting his role in the attack.

Four men have also been jailed for a series of fire-raising attacks, including one outside McMillan's home two weeks before the machete assault.

Brown was one of more than 60 people arrested by Police Scotland during Operation Portaledge.

Prosecutor Caroline MacBride told the court that Brown was one of three men who were spotted at the scene in a Land Rover, while wearing a balaclavas.

The car was seen driving past the house and turning around before stopping outside McMillan's family home.

The prosecutor told the court: "The security guard sounded his horn which alerted McMillan.

"He exited his home in possession of a machete."

The businessman walked out of his garden towards the car when three individuals - also in possession of machetes - jumped out.

Horror footage of what then unfolded was shown at the hearing.

McMillan was repeatedly struck with the weapons while on the pavement outside.

He shouted: "You are going to kill me."

He initially stayed on his feet, but ended up slumping to the ground as the blows rained in.

The security guard jumped in to try to protect McMillan, swinging a crowbar at the thugs.

The assailants jumped back into the vehicle and raced off.

McMillan - who initially had a blue jumper over his shoulders - used the garment to cover his face and head.

The prosecutor said McMillan initially declined to be taken to hospital, but was later seen driving "erratically" and was stopped by police.

He was escorted to hospital - among his string of injuries were found to be fractures and wounds to his skull and left forearm.

McMillan declined to provide a statement.

Marco Guarino, defending, said Brown had no links to those behind the crime and initially believed the incident was about drugs before "matters developed".

It emerged he already had a lengthy criminal past including two High Court jail terms.

The defence lawyer stated that any suggestion Brown had been defending himself that day was incorrect and that he was "not trying to deflect responsibility".

Passing sentence, the judge said Brown still played a "central role" in the assault.

Unlike similar cases, a serious crime prevention order - designed to tackle and monitor offenders on their release from jail - was not imposed.

The judge jailed Brown for five years and three months.

He will be supervised for a further three years on his release.