Former A&E doctor Martin Watt, pictured, is accused of possessing three sub machine guns, two pistols and ammunition with intent to endanger life at Glasgow High Court
A retired doctor caught with a haul of guns who made plans to ‘assassinate’ people involved in him being sacked has been convicted of intent to endanger life.
Martin Watt said the ‘template’ for the attacks was based on a film starring Robert De Niro about mercenaries hired to kill.
The High Court in Glasgow heard that the 62-year-old had compiled a list of ‘bad guys’ including details of individuals linked to earlier disciplinary proceedings against him.
Jurors earlier heard that the medic lost his job as an A&E consultant at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, Lanarkshire.
Police went on to find three Skorpion sub-machine guns, two Valtro pistols and bullets during a search of his home. But Watt insisted he had no intention to kill – and was ‘not a danger to the public’.
However, prosecutors said the police had performed ‘a valuable service’ by ‘capturing’ him.
Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC said: ‘All this was done in preparation for an awful event. There was an intention to endanger life, it was more than mere thinking about it.
‘Dr Watt was harbouring a grudge and he sought out the home addresses of the key players in the disciplinary process.
‘He collected a significant arsenal of lethal weapons and felt he had been unfairly treated.’
It took a jury at the High Court in Glasgow took just 75 minutes to convict Watt. The first offender has already admitted possession weapons and ammunition.
Watt – who was with the NHS for 32 years – had been based at Monklands until 2012.
Jurors were told he was dismissed following disciplinary proceedings.
Police found the ‘bad guys’ list at his home in Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire, in May last year.
He also had information on individuals’ addresses and car registrations. Watt said those on the list were involved in the ‘bullying, harassment and [his] eventual dismissal’.
His QC John Scott asked: ‘What were your feelings towards these people?’
The former consultant said: ‘Monumental disappointment. I felt so cheated. They were trying to make it look like things I was not…being incompetent, racial abuse was also one. They were not allowing me to clear my name.’
Watt spent 32 years with the NHS and had been based at Monklands Hospital, pictured, in 2012 when he was sacked following disciplinary proceedings against him
Police raiding Dr Martin Watt’s house in Cumbernauld, Lanakshire last May recovered three Skorpion sub machine guns, similar to this, as well as ammunition (file photograph)
Watt told the High Court in Glasgow that he only used the Skorpion gun for target practice in a forest near his home and he never had any intention to carry out his ‘assassination plan’
Watt then told the court he had ‘assessed how to assassinate’ people on the list and ‘express my thoughts on paper’.
He said the plans were based on the plot of a 2011 film named Killer Elite – which Watt stated centred on violent mercenaries.
Mr Scott said: ‘How to assassinate these people. That is quite a statement?’
Watt said: ‘Yes.’
The QC asked: ‘Any intention to carry out this plan?’
Watt replied: ‘No.’
The former medic admitted he had firearms and bullets.
But he told the trial he only used a Skorpion gun for target practice in a forest near his home.
The High Court in Glasgow heard that the 62-year-old had compiled a list of ‘bad guys’ including details of individuals linked to earlier disciplinary proceedings against him
Mr Scott asked: ‘You had the gun and ammunition, a bad guys list, thoughts about assassinating people, so, are these things not all linked?’
Watt said: ‘No – playing out the retribution game on paper gave me some sort of comfort.’
He insisted he was not trying to ‘execute some kind of revenge on these bad guys’. Prosecutor Alex Prentice, QC, later suggested Watt was someone who ‘harboured a grudge’ at times ‘with people in authority’ and went on to state that police had found a significant arsenal of lethal weapons.
He asked: ‘Why not join a gun club?’
Watt said: ‘I preferred doing things in my own time.’
The advocate depute said Watt had gathered information ‘with a view to take some kind of action’ against people.
Watt said: ‘No.’
Police also recovered two Valtro pistols, similar to this, from the former A&E doctor’s home
Mr Prentice concluded: ‘Police Scotland played a valuable service by capturing you when they did.’
Watt said: ‘I do not see myself as a danger to the public or would have allowed these weapons to fall into criminal hands.’
The court later heard from Desmond Herkes, 51, who described Watt as one of his best friends and said he was a support and comfort to him when his late mother was in hospital for ten months.
He said the retired medic also helped with composing a letter of complaint about her treatment.
Mr Scott asked: ‘Did he ever lose his temper with medical staff?’
Mr Herkes replied: ‘No, he was respectful with them.’
Mr Herkes told the court that he was ‘very shocked’ when he heard that a cache of guns and ammunition was found in the house where they both lodged.
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