Two men who carried out a gangland firebombing of a house on the orders of a Dubai-based “boss” have been jailed for a total of 18 years.
Richard Ordish, 19, and Kurtis Young, 42, were caught on camera committing the attack, which wrecked the semi-detached property in Edinburgh, on April 4 last year.
The pair then turned up at the home of Young’s partner, smelling of petrol, before he apparently phoned the United Arab Emirates to confirm the “job” had been done.
But, Ordish and Young were soon caught as suspects were swept up during the Operation Portaledge probe into violence which erupted across Central Scotland last year.
They are now behind bars after they admitted attempted murder at the High Court in Glasgow.
Judge Lord Arthurson imposed extended sentences on both men on Tuesday.
The judge said: “This was a callous, concerted and tragic crime with your faces masked in the context of an escalating organised crime gang war in the hours of darkness in a residential street while your victims slept.
“This had a very real threat to kill and was the scope of the criminal plan as you have accepted by your pleas of guilty to the attempted murder of two people. It was a wholly murderous one.
“You did all of this for money under instruction.
“It is difficult to express the contempt of the public for this despicable conduct and high tariff sentences are required.”
Ordish was given a seven-year prison sentence and will be under supervision for four years upon his release.
Young will serve 11 years behind bars and be under supervision for four years when he is released.
Young was given the higher sentence due to him having a “well developed criminal history” and the young persons sentencing guidelines applying to Ordish.
A small fire had initially been reported at the property a week before the attack.
It was initially thought to be an accidental electrical blaze, but video footage emerged online that the fire was instead deliberate.
This led to the householder – who cannot be named for legal reasons – temporarily moving out.
Ordish and Young then prepared themselves for the murder bid by buying two fuel cans from a garage.
They then got a taxi to pick up a motorbike before travelling to the house.
Around 1am, residents became aware of noises in the street.
Prosecutor Michael Macintosh then explained: “Both Ordish and Young were present with faces masked.
“Ordish was on the bike while Young set the fire by throwing an ignited item through a ground-floor window.
“There was a bright flash of light as the fire ignited. The two men made off on the motorbike.”
The court heard Ordish had seemingly filmed the attack.
Mr Macintosh said: “This was later posted on the internet as part of a compilation of similar videos all linked to the Tamo Junto account, which had been associated with promoting and celebrating the spate of fire-raisings and criminality related to Operation Portaledge.”
A total of five fire engines arrived to put out the large blaze, which had spread to both floors and the roof, which ended up partially collapsed.
Drone footage shown in court captured the extensive damage to the house.
The court heard the property may have to be rebuilt at a cost of up to £300,000.
There was a further £60,000 repair bill after the neighbouring semi was also affected.
The men went to a house linked to Young’s partner where Ordish was described as looking “shocked and shaken”.
Mr Macintosh said: “Young’s partner asked what had happened. He replied that they had ‘petrol bombed a house for a job’.
“He then placed a phone call to someone in Dubai, who he referred to as his ‘boss’.
“The person on the other end asked if he had done the job, and Young said ‘yes’.”
Young collected cash the next day, which he claimed was payment for what he had done.
Ordish and Young were arrested weeks apart in April and May 2025.
Young’s phone was examined, and there were texts to his mum, worried that he would be caught.
Mr Macintosh said: “He makes reference to his involvement in organised crime, referring to himself as being ‘wanted as the leader of the Edinburgh gang as I am the one that is in contact with the guys in Dubai and Brazil’.
“He also refers to receiving payment for his work from people abroad.”
Ordish’s phone revealed the pair had been in contact. A contact saved as “X” had told Ordish to get in touch with Young the night before the fire.
Ordish also messaged another associate: “Of course, bro. Anytime when paper (slang for money) involved.”
Forensic evidence was also incriminating – a glove left near the scene next to a beer bottle with traces of petrol had Young’s DNA on it.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
