‘Evil Jesus’ locked up after trying to order a hitman on the dark web

A man who identified as ‘evil Jesus’ while plotting to kill a prosecutor on the dark web has been detained indefinitely.

Martin Ready, 43, was found guilty of attempting to conspire to murder Darren Harty by using cryptocurrency to pay for a hitman on the dark web at Glasgow’s High Court.

He paid £5,071.24 in Bitcoin between May 2021 and September 2022 and sent instructions for Mr Harty to be shot on a dark website called Online Killers Market, which turned out to be fake.

During his trial, Ready claimed to suffer from delusions that he was ‘evil Jesus’ and believed the murder of Mr Harty would expose organised crime in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, where they were both from.

The men knew each other from a pub owned by Mr Harty’s family in Coatbridge, the court heard.

Judge Lady Hood today imposed a compulsion order and a restriction order detaining him in hospital indefinitely, having considered reports from two psychiatrists who recommended the move.

One, Dr Sivakumar Appan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist who treats Ready at the Rowanbank Clinic in Glasgow where he is detained, told the court he believes a restriction order is necessary to protect the public from the risk of ‘serious harm’.

He said Ready does not believe he is unwell and there is a risk he would not take medication which can help treat his condition if he were not under such an order.

Dr Appan said: ‘Mr Ready was convicted of an offence which is significant and serious and appears to have occurred within the context of delusional beliefs about the victim, and he has also had delusional beliefs about crime in the Lanarkshire area.’

Advocate depute Michelle Brannagan said: ‘Mr Ready has a mental disorder, a delusional disorder. There is medical treatment that will alleviate symptoms and prevent it worsening.

‘There is significant risk to Mr Ready and the safety of the public if he is not provided with that treatment.

‘A compulsion order is necessary because Mr Ready has limited insight into his illness.’

She added: ‘Given his continued delusional beliefs there is a significant risk to the public and it is necessary to protect the public from serious harm.’

Ready had denied the charge during the trial and lodged a special defence of lacking criminal responsibility.

The court previously heard the men knew each other from the pub but had not seen each other for years before the plot.

Lady Hood granted a compulsion order authorising that Ready be detained in Rowanbank Clinic and given medical treatment.

She also granted a restriction order which means he will be detained indefinitely, and a non-harassment order banning him from contacting or attempting to contact Mr Harty.

Lady Hood told Ready: ‘The offence of which you have been convicted is a very serious one. It involved a considerable degree of planning on your part.’

She said she is satisfied a compulsion order is appropriate and a restriction order is necessary ‘for the protection of the public from serious harm’.

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