8 Heinous Scottish Criminals - And Their Crimes

2. Tam McGraw

Long term nemesis of Paul Ferris and noted name in the Glasgow underworld at the same time, Tam "The Licencee" McGraw was a feared figure in Scotland's largest city.

A man who was involved in crime from the start, he started out with petty thefts and robberies before standing accused of more serious crimes such as attempted murder. The way he always seemed to manage to avoid getting found guilty no matter what the situation has led to a persistent rumour that he was a long-term police informer.

He was a figure of note during the "Ice-Cream Wars" of the '80s (which are not as light-hearted or whimsical as they sound) and while he expanded his legitimate business interests and increased his wealth, he always seemed to maintain this near-magical ability to stay out of jail for the portions of it that were less legal.

Once friends, he became mortal enemies with Paul Ferris to the extent that he agreed to pay him a seven-figure sum in order to ensure no vengeance was sought when Ferris got out of jail. Increasingly paranoid, McGraw never went anywhere without bodyguards and took to wearing a bullet-proof vest.

He died in 2007 of a suspected cardiac arrest.

Contributor
Contributor

Matthew is a Marine Engineer to trade who writes sub-standard Scottish crime fiction in his spare time that can be found here:- https://mmacleodwriting.uk/ Originally brought up in the Western Isles of Scotland, he lived in Edinburgh for 18 years but now stay in Aberdeenshire with his partner, sons and dog.