Mystery blonde's tears as death plot mastermind jailed for 11 years

Yesterday, a mystery blonde thought to be Imran Sakur's lover turned up in court to see him jailed for 11 years over the failed hit at the Maybury Casino.

Sakur waved to the tearful woman, who was dressed all in black, as he was led from the dock following his sentencing for plotting to murder city businessman Tony Demarco. Outside the court she refused to comment.

Sakur and his three co-conspirators were jailed for a total of 43 years for their roles in the shooting, which saw Mr Demarco blasted in the head.

Father-of-four Sakur, 35, from Dundee, is believed to have built up huge debts bankrolling a luxury lifestyle with his Eastern European mistress, known in the sex trade as "Erica", showering her with gifts and holidays and setting her up in her own flat.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard allegations that Sakur ordered the hit after falling into debt to Mr Demarco, 63, by taking loans to maintain his spending, although Sakur and the businessman both denied this in court.

Yesterday, bricklayer Jamie Robertson, 25, from Paisley, who pulled the trigger outside the casino on the night of 3 June 2008, was also jailed for 11 years.

Unemployed panel-beater Craig Kelbie, 35, from Dundee, was jailed for 11 years for his role as Sakur's "fixer" who arranged the hit. Getaway driver Francis McGlone, 39, a labourer from Paisley, was given ten years.

Sentencing them, judge Lord Kinclaven said: "Conspiracy to assault and murder is an extremely serious matter, particularly where it involves the discharge of a loaded weapon and the attempted murder of Mr Demarco in a public street."

All four had been found guilty last month of conspiracy to murder and attempted murder "whilst acting along with another".

Underworld sources said it was Sakur's infatuation with "Erica" that helped fuel heavy debts which he was unable to pay back.

The trial heard that Sakur had blown 40,000 at the casino in the run-up to the shooting.

Mr Demarco was shot in the head at close range by Robertson while Sakur stood a few feet away, laughing and joking with the victim beforehand. Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Bobby Deas, who led the investigation into the shooting, said: "This was without doubt a challenging case, and I would like to thank all those involved with the inquiry, including our colleagues and partner agencies throughout the UK, whose assistance was crucial in bringing this case to a successful conclusion.

"These individuals were engaged in a conspiracy to murder, and it is clear by their actions that they are dangerous men.

"There is no place for such individuals in modern society, and we are satisfied with the sentences that have been handed down today."

During the days leading up to the shooting Sakur had relayed orders through Kelbie in an attempt to avoid being linked to the planned murder.

A trawl through security camera footage by police showed McGlone's car driving around the casino area on the night of the shooting. After a dawn raid on his home, McGlone named Robertson as the gunman in an "off the record" chat with detectives.

Mobile phone records linked Robertson first to Kelbie, and then to Sakur, Kelbie's landlord.

Detectives confronted Sakur with a tip-off that Mr Demarco had a price of 20,000 on his head.