Gang jailed for campaign of terror against workers
A GANG have been jailed for a total of 29 years after being convicted of a savage campaign of kidnappings, violence and intimidation against terrified workers.
Robert McPhee, 65,nicknamed The Tank Commander teamed up with sons James, 45,and Steven McPhee, 37, as well as sonin-law John Miller,38, to prey on vulnerable men.
The victims – eight in total – came from broken or troubled backgrounds.
They were promised work and money doing jobs such as mono-blocking driveways for the notorious family.
But, the men did mammoth shifts for little or no pay – and were brutally punished if they complained.
Brian McEwen told how he was beaten so often by Robert McPhee that he was “yelping in pain and cowering like a dog”.
They stayed at a number of traveller sites across Scotland including one in Bathgate, West Lothian and another in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire. They latterly had a base at Curryside Piggery i n Shotts, South Lanarkshire.
Judge Lady Stacey told them that people who had a “variety of problems” were “used by them” for work. The were found guilty following a five week trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Robert McPhee – known as Bobby – was convicted of 14 charges, James McPhee eight and John Miller was found guilty of two.
Robert McPhee was jailed for a total of 10 years with two years supervision when he is released. James was sentenced to nine years behind bars and three years supervision, and Miller was jailed for a total of seven years with three years supervision.
Steven McPhee admitted assaulting one worker, who damaged his van, near the end of the case and was jailed for three years for his part.
John Miller was convicted of abducting and holding Kieran Williams in “servitude”.