Daniel Laponder’s Mad Dogs Motorcycle Club was described as being embroiled in a feud with the Blue Angels Motorcycle Club (Picture: Spindrift Photo Agency)
A tattooed biker who planted a pipe bomb under a van belonging to a rival’s dad during a ‘bizarre’ motorcycle gang feud has been jailed.
Daniel Laponder, 43, targeted David Rollo’s work vehicle parked up outside his home in Lennoxtown, East Dumbartonshire, on June 8 this year.
Mr Rollo’s son, also named David, is a member of the Blue Angels Motorcycle Club – claimed to be the oldest ‘outlaw’ biker club in Europe.
Laponder used to belong to the same crew before splintering off and forming his own Mad Dogs Motorcycle Club.
Glasgow’s High Court heard the two clubs are ‘engaged in a feud’ with each other.
Laponder was later found with a shotgun which he kept on his barge where he lived in Kirkintilloch.
He pleaded guilty in September to wilful fire raising and possession of the shotgun without the authority of the Secretary of State or Scottish Ministers.
Judge Lord Arthurson said the background to the offences were ‘somewhat bizarre stemming from a feud between the Blue Angels and Mad Dogs after you left the Blue Angels’.
The judge added: ‘A very substantial custodial disposal is inevitable in this case.’
Laponder pleaded guilty to wilful fire raising and possession of the shotgun without the authority (Picture: Mike Gibbons)
An earlier hearing was told Mr Rollo Sr parked his BT Openreach Vauxhall Vivaro van near his home on June 7.
Late the following night, an off duty fire fighter was told of a vehicle which was ablaze on Benvue Road.
Prosecutor Lorraine Glancy KC said: ‘He attended to assess the situation and saw the vehicle on fire.
‘He observed a device made up from bottles, wires and an apparent electrical component with a battery compartment.’
Fire crews attended and found a device lying underneath the front of the van.
The court heard the crude device consisted of two plastic bottles and copper pipe taped together, attached to an RF receiver with and an antenna.
A major incident was later declared which resulted in an emergency evacuation procedure as well a 100 metre cordon until the device was made safe.
Due to the nature and severity of the incident, teams from Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue, the Scottish Ambulance service and a Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit attended.
Ms Glancy said: ‘At 5.45am, confirmation was received that the device was a viable pipe bomb which had been detonated
‘There were traces of accelerant located at the front offside wheel and an area underneath the engine.’
Police inquiries led officers to the Mad Dogs Motorcycle Club Facebook account which featured Laponder and another man with a Range Rover.
The same Range Rover was caught on video doorbell footage as the vehicle driven by the perpetrators.
He was told he faces a ‘very substantial’ prison sentence (Picture: Mike Gibbons)
The pair even posted themselves on Facebook on the day of the attack with the caption: ‘Hooked up with this reprobate today, interesting stuff.’
Laponder and the other man purchased duct tape …read more
Source:: Metro