Former hospital consultant found with sub-machine guns jailed

Martin Watt, 62, was convicted last month of possessing firearms with intent to endanger life. He had previously pled guilty to a host of other firearms charges.

At the High Court in Glasgow today, Mr Watt was sentenced to 12 years in custody with a three year extended sentence.

A Serious Crime Prevention Order was also imposed banning him from owning firearms and restricting his ability to enter NHS facilities or use courier and delivery services for five years after he is released from jail.

The court heard that police discovered the weapons at his Cumbernauld home; including three sub-machine guns, two pistols as well as ammunition.

The search also uncovered a list of names and addresses of those who had been involved in a disciplinary process which had led Watt being sacked from Monklands Hospital in Airdrie. The list was entitled ‘Bad Guys’.

The court was told that the lethal collection of weapons had been amassed with intent to do harm to his former colleagues and those working at the hospital.

Nicky Patrick, Procurator Fiscal for Homicide and Major Crime, said: “Martin Watt put together the collection of guns for a particular purpose which would have had extreme consequences had he been able to carry out his intentions.

“It was clear from the case presented in court that he had gone beyond simply thinking about his actions and there was a clear plan in place to carry out a dreadful event.

“The prosecution case against Watt was built on the excellent intelligence led operation put together by Police Scotland and colleagues across the country.”