An Edinburgh gangster who was found with £500,000 worth of heroin in his car has been again denied permission to become a landlord.
Paul MacAuley led police on a high-speed chase in 2017, and was caught with the drugs in his vehicle, with a search of his properties revealing another £150,000 worth of narcotics.
Councillors at the Edinburgh licensing meeting heard that MacAuley, who was not present, had also been denied permission to enter the landlord register in July 2024.
At that time, he had tried applying under a different name, Paul Hilsen, without declaring any convictions – but a Police Scotland report to councillors flagged his offences.
Both times, MacAuley tried to get on the register with two Edinburgh properties – though the first time around, he was still in prison, serving his seven year, four-month sentence.
In addition to drugs charges, for which he was sentenced six years, he was given 16 months extra for dangerous driving, and after appeal had to pay £97,685. He pled guilty to all charges.
Police sergeant Grant Robertson also told councillors of another conviction in March 2017 for theft, where several vehicles and other valuable items were found on his property.
Sgt Robertson added: “Paul MacAuley has clear links to serious and organised crime leaders, and was involved in the large scale distribution of illegal drugs.
“Serious organised crime can involve violent confrontations between criminals, and in some unfortunate circumstances the victims are not only criminals themselves, but bystanders.
“Connection to criminals is not compatible with being registered on the landlord register.”
He also said MacAulay’s drugs conviction would never be considered spent.
One councillor asked Sgt Robertson why MacAuley’s conviction would never be spent.
He replied that it was due to the length of his sentence and the seriousness of the crime.
Councillors agreed to deny MacAuley’s registration without further discussion.
By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter
