A JUDGE yesterday said that attacks on journalists will “not be tolerated” as he sentenced Glasgow gangland figure William ‘Basil’ Burns to 10 years in jail for throwing acid in the face of investigative reporter Russell Findlay.
With an order that Burns be supervised for five years after his release, judge Lord Matthews effectively gave Burns, 56, a sentence of 15 years for the attack in December, 2015.
Burns posed as a postman before throwing sulphuric acid at Findlay at the door of the journalist’s home in Glasgow. Despite the pain of the burning acid, Findlay and his neighbours were able to overpower and detain Burns, and the prompt application of quantities of water saved Findlay’s sight.
Lord Matthew told Burns: “You have been convicted of a vicious, premeditated attack by the throwing of sulphuric acid into the face of a journalist on the threshold of his own home two days before Christmas.
“I need not go into the evidence in the case in any detail. It was overwhelming. You were caught virtually red-handed and your own evidence was an obvious fabrication from start to finish, plainly being made up as you were going along.
“Leaving aside your own explanation why you were there, the only reason I can discern for your actions is that you objected to something that your victim wrote. There are ways and means of dealing with grievances, real or imagined, against the media and this was plainly not one of them.
“The freedom of the press is an essential tool in the armoury of any democracy and attacks of this nature will not be tolerated.
“The jury found that this attack was to Mr Findlay’s severe injury and to the danger of his life. I accept that the danger to his life was potential rather than real. Nonetheless, you went to his house in the morning, disguised as a postman, and threw acid at him with the plain intention of causing him severe damage. The evidence showed that you were also armed with a knife but thankfully you did not get the chance to use it.
Lord Matthew continued:“To some extent you bit off more than you could chew. Mr Findlay did not take your attack lying down. He was able to overpower you and with the prompt assistance of neighbours you were detained there and then. Due to the intervention of those neighbours, Mr Findlay’s injuries were not as bad as they might have been.
“It is or should be well known that acid has the potential to cause catastrophic damage and it is no thanks to you that that was not the case here.
He concluded: “I have listened to all that has been said on your behalf and considered the terms of the criminal justice social work report. You have a bad record and are clearly a dangerous man.”
It had earlier been revealed in court that Burns had an extensive criminal record, and had been jailed for 15 years in 2001 for shooting a woman during a post office raid in Linwood.
After Burns was convicted, Findlay said: “I greatly appreciate the professionalism of Detective Sergeant Craig Warren, his Police Scotland colleagues and the NHS staff who treated my injuries along with extraordinary support from friends, fellow journalists and family.
“Burns is a coward who was paid a significant sum of money to come to my home disguised as a postman, throw sulphuric acid in my face and attempt to stab me on the orders of a major organised criminal who is in prison for another matter.”
Findlay added that he will give a “full account” of his concerns about the case in due course.
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