A 62-year-old former doctor, Martin Watt, who built up a terrifying stock pile of guns and made an ‘assassination list’ has been jailed for 12 years. It was discovered that he kept the names and addresses of those involved in his disciplinary hearings, and claimed that the list was to make him feel better.
This was coming after he was fired from a Lanarkshire hospital, which happened at almost the same time with the breakdown of his marriage.
The former doctor kept three sub-machine guns, two pistols and 1,500 live cartridges at a property in Cumbernauld last year with the intent of endangering lives after losing his job at North Lanarkshire’s Monklands Hospital following disciplinary hearings. His marriage broke down around the same he lost his job in 2012 and he drew up a list of names and addresses involved in the disciplinary process.
The former hospital consultant – who was also discovered to have carried out shooting practice – was sentenced at Glasgow’s High Court, where Judge Lady Stacey referred to Watt’s collection of names as his ‘assassination list’.
While the former doctor claimed that his firing practice was just a way to make himself feel better, the judge said the jury rejected the claim when finding him guilty last month. Three sub-machine guns, two pistols and rounds of live ammunitions were found at the property where Watt built up his arsenal.
When Defence QC, John Scott urged the judge to take Watt’s age and near 30 year public service with the NHS into account, the lawyer said he could not minimise the seriousness of the charges but that ‘Dr Watt is an unusual person to find himself in the dock at the High Court’.
Lady Stacey said:
“I entirely accept you have served the community in the past.
These are lethal weapons. Not only did you have the guns, you had live ammunition. The weapons were all in working order because you reactivated them.
You had them with intent to endanger life and any court must take a very serious view of this. You represent a danger to members of the public.
You had researched routes to some addresses, you told the jury you practised shooting to make yourself a better marksman.
The jury did not accept your assertion you intended to do no harm and that you wrote things out and did research on the internet as a way to make yourself feel better.
It is sad to see a man who has held the positions you have in this situation.
Nothing has been said that explains why you acquired a stock of weapons and ammunition.
You are a well-educated and intelligent man and must appreciate the law in this country around firearms is strict. These are lethal weapons.
The jury found you had them with intent to endanger life. I take the view you represent a danger to members of the public.”
Beside being jailed for 12 years, Watt was given another three years of supervision, and Serious Crime Prevention Order was also granted restricting his internet use, travel and NHS visits for five years after his release from custody.
