Convicted gangster Robert Kelbie, 43, was photographed alongside former murder suspect Andy Cairns at a lavish £400,000 high-society event held at the Gleneagles Hotel. The pair posed for pictures with their partners at the upmarket gathering.
Underworld Connections on Display
Cairns, 47, has served prison time for assault, robbery and firearms offences. He was also described in the 2013 murder trial of financial adviser Lynda Spence as “a known thug and gangster”.
A source said: “Robert never misses a chance to show off who he’s been hanging out with. Cairns is one of the biggest players in the underworld.
“Robert is sending out a message to his enemies that he is well connected. There were plenty of other well-known criminals at the bash.”
Cairns' Criminal History
Cairns was named in a police report to the procurator fiscal over the 1999 fatal double shooting of drug dealer John Nisbet, 25, and friend William Lindsay, 29, whose bodies were found torched in East Lothian. He has never stood trial for the killings despite being identified by detectives as prime suspect along with his dealer pal Lee Smith, who died of a cocaine overdose in 2006 aged 32.
Cairns was jailed for three years for assault and robbery in 1996. He also has convictions for firearms and assault to severe injury which resulted in a 12-month jail term.
Links to Other Criminals
Nisbet and Lindsay were tortured and shot in a field near Chapelhall, Lanarkshire. Their corpses were then loaded into a car boot and taken to Elphinstone, East Lothian, where they were burned to destroy evidence. Phone records established that the last call Nisbet made before he died was to Smith.
Sources say Cairns has strong links with drug dealer and convicted killer Robert “Birdman” O’Hara, 45, who was jailed for murdering Paul McDowall. Cairns has visited him numerous times in prison since he was convicted in 2006.
The trial of Lynda Spence was told that she was being threatened by Cairns over £18,000 she owed him. Defence lawyer Derek Ogg described him as a “known thug and gangster”. Colin Coats and Philip Wade were found guilty of her murder.
Kelbie regularly posts snaps with celebrity pals including boxer Tyson Fury, 38, and Oasis star Noel Gallagher, 59.
