Gangland hitman jailed for plot to kill businessman

Frank Doris was hired by property developer Martin Black, who wanted businessman Kevin Martin killed in order to get out of paying a 100,000 debt.

Doris and Black built up an arsenal of weapons – including a knife, sword, gun and ammunition – and tried to set up ambushes to get Mr Martin in Edinburgh in 2008.

However, the pair were snared after boasting of their plans to a former vice girl who later went to police.

Doris and Black appeared at the High Court in Glasgow today after being found guilty of conspiring to murder last month.

Judge Norman Ritchie QC told Doris – a self confessed "career criminal" – that he had been employed by Black to be the "hitman".

He said the 39 year-old had a "dreadful record" including a previous nine year jail term for firearms offences.

Black, 33, was locked up for eight years for his part in the crime.

Judge Ritchie told him he appeared to be from a respectable background, but had got involved with "dubious characters".

A trial previously heard how Black had been living in fear of Mr Martin, 38, who claimed he was owed money from a business deal.

Black then recruited Doris – a right hand man of notorious Edinburgh gangster George "Dode" Buchanan.

Paisley-born Doris boasted about shooting other men and regularly signed his text messages "Murder Inc".

The court heard how Doris demanded 30,000 to kill Mr Martin.

Doris and Black collected weapons and also had a car with a false number plate that were to be used in the murder.

They later told Claire Lizanec and Connie Comrie – two drug addicts – of their intention to track down and kill Mr Martin leading to police intervening.

Judge Ritchie said he was reducing each of their sentences by two years to take into account time already spent in custody.