Niddrie Shooting: Gunman Jailed After Firing Shots at Home of Crime Boss Associate

A dangerous gunman has been handed a lengthy prison sentence after launching a targeted shooting attack on a residential property in Edinburgh. The incident occurred amidst an escalating gangland conflict that has caused widespread alarm across the city's residential neighborhoods.

Midnight Gunfire at Niddrie Marischal Crescent

In the early hours of Thursday, March 20, 2025, residents of Niddrie Marischal Crescent were startled by the sound of gunfire. At approximately 12:50 AM, an individual dressed entirely in black was captured on security footage approaching a house linked to an associate of jailed crime boss Mark Richardson. The gunman drew a firearm and discharged three live rounds directly into the front of the property before fleeing the scene.

While the occupant was inside at the time of the shooting, they miraculously escaped injury. The bullets shattered the front windows and embedded themselves in the walls of the living area, demonstrating the lethal intent of the attack. Police cordon teams and forensic specialists recovered bullet casings and analyzed trajectory paths to identify the weapon used.

Police Hunt for the Getaway Car

Immediately following the shooting, detectives launched an appeal for information regarding a white BMW 1 series car that was spotted driving erratically in the Niddrie area around the time of the incident. Under the oversight of Operation Portaledge, Police Scotland analyzed traffic cameras and local CCTV to track the vehicle's escape route, which led investigators to suspects connected to Glasgow-based organized crime syndicates.

Gunman Nicky Robertson Jailed

The investigation led to the arrest of 39-year-old Nicky Robertson. Forensic evidence and digital surveillance placed Robertson at the scene of the shooting. Robertson was subsequently prosecuted and convicted of assault, possession of an illegal firearm with intent to endanger life, and conspiracy. He was sentenced to nine years in prison. The court heard that the shooting was a targeted strike aimed at intimidating Richardson's associates as part of a dispute over a stolen drug shipment.