The Satan's Slaves motorcycle gang, founded in the 1970s, were once one of Scotland's most feared, known for violence, bloodshed, and clashes with rivals like The Outlaws and Hells Angels.
Crimes and Convictions
In 1979, a gang member was jailed for wielding a knife and admitting he was the brains behind a £150,000 robbery plot. Around the same time, another Satan's Slave was among 11 bikers jailed for a total of 55 years after a battle with the Hells Angels in Berkshire.
The Fife division, which convicted paedophile George Ritchie belonged to, was started by several young riders who frequented Maggie's club in Dunfermline.
George Ritchie's Abuse
Ritchie was jailed for eight years in 2014 for historic sexual offences. His victim, Betty, was just six years old when he first indecently assaulted her while wearing his leather uniform. He repeatedly molested her over six years, often while baby-sitting, and blackmailed her into silence. Nearly four decades later, she reported his crimes, leading to his conviction.
He had already been jailed for nine months in 1999 for indecently assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
Other Incidents
In 2007, George Kerr, a henchman of convicted gunrunner Paul Ferris, was the target of an attempted hit by two Satan's Slaves in Dundee. He escaped injury. Members were also linked to a serious assault on a young man and his girlfriend in a Doncaster pub in December 2010.
In 2011, Tayside police probed claims that 4,000 bikers were heading to Scotland for a battle between The Scottish Blue Angels and Satan's Slaves.
Barry Smith's Attack
In 2023, gang member Barry Smith was locked up for attempting to murder a fellow biker. Smith drove his van into a motorcycle being ridden by Andrew Lamb, a member of the Tribe Motorcycle Club, on July 24, 2021, on the A7 road near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders.
Smith, 42, was a support driver for a convoy of Satan's Slaves, supposed to help injured or broken-down motorcyclists. Eyewitnesses saw Slaves fight with Tribe members on the road. Smith then drove into Lamb's bike, causing debilitating injuries. A passing motorist filmed Smith wearing a T-shirt with the slogan SFFS, which stood for “Slaves Forever Forever Slaves”. He was jailed for eight years and given 10 points on his driving licence.
