Six years for 'tartan terrorist'

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A self-styled "tartan terrorist" who admitted sending shotgun cartridges and threatening letters to politicians has been jailed for six years.

Adam Busby junior, 34, from Paisley, targeted First Minister Alex Salmond and Mike Rumbles MSP as part of a postal hate campaign in March.

After sending six packages he rang journalists and said it was the work of the Scottish National Liberation Army.

Busby admitted the charges at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.

The court heard he sent packages to elected representatives and a local authority.

They were intercepted by staff at the Royal Mail in Aberdeen and Glasgow City Council workers, who had been alerted by police.

No doubt there is an emotional bond between you and your father and your natural concern for him has given rise to what I can only call distorted thinking Lord Brailsford

One was addressed to Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles and contained two shotgun cartridges and a note which read: "Just because you can't see us doesn't mean we're not there. Next one's a bomb."

The second package, addressed to Glasgow City Council, contained one cartridge and the message "You are a target for death. Regards, SNLA."

Busby was caught after the calls were traced to his mobile phone and police launched an armed surveillance operation on his home in Paisley.

The court heard that at the time of the offences the 34-year-old was on bail in connection with a separate offence.

Appearing at the High Court in Edinburgh for sentencing, Busby was told by Lord Brailsford: "The offences are all quite plainly disturbing and very serious."

The judge said those who received the packages Busby sent did not know they were hoaxes.

Letter-bomb campaign

He said: "They were live ammunition and to that extent created a clear and obvious risk to persons who may have handled them."

Busby's father, Adam senior, a former solider with the Argylls, founded the tiny cell of so called "freedom fighters" known as the Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA) in the 1980s to resist "mass English migration".

In 1983 there were 27 SNLA attacks, including letter-bombs to Margaret Thatcher and the Princess of Wales.

Busby senior is currently serving a prison sentence in Ireland for a letter-bomb campaign.

Referring to his father, Lord Brailsford told Busby junior: "I accept you have legitimate concern about your father's predicament.

"No doubt there is an emotional bond between you and your father and your natural concern for him has given rise to what I can only call distorted thinking."