A man who believed he was "evil Jesus" and used the dark web in a plot to assassinate a prosecutor has been ordered to remain in a secure mental health facility indefinitely.
A Dark Web Conspiracy Unravels
Martin Ready was found guilty last year of attempting to conspire to murder Darren Harty. The plot, which ran from May 2021 to September 2022, was apparently inspired by a conspiracy theory about alleged corruption at a pub in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire.
Ready's elaborate scheme involved setting up cryptocurrency accounts and using a site on the dark web to hire a hitman, to whom he paid £5,071.24 in Bitcoin. The website was later exposed as a front for a scam, and the plot was uncovered by a documentary-maker.
Mental Health and a Delusional Belief System
During his trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Ready denied the charge and lodged a special defence of lacking criminal responsibility. He claimed his motivation was to expose alleged organised crime and "money washing" at the pub, which was owned by Mr Harty's family.
In his evidence, Ready told the court he believed he was "Jesus" in autumn 2021 and suffered a relapse in January 2022 when he believed he was "evil Jesus". He stated: "At the time, I genuinely believed I was Jesus and that the actions I took were to expose the criminality I had been subjected to."
Psychiatrists subsequently diagnosed him with "delusional disorder". He has been receiving treatment at the Rowanbank Clinic in Glasgow.
Court Orders Indefinite Detention
Returning to court on Wednesday 17 December 2025, judge Lady Hood heard evidence from consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Sivakumar Appan. Dr Appan testified that Ready "does not believe he is mentally ill" and "does not believe he needs medication".
The doctor raised significant concerns, noting Ready was likely to stop his medication and disengage from services as he had done before, posing a significant risk to the public and himself.
Judge Lady Hood, branding the crime a "very serious offence" involving "a considerable degree of planning", followed medical recommendations. She imposed compulsion and restriction orders, detaining Ready at the medium secure facility indefinitely. He was also banned from contacting his intended victim.
The victim, Darren Harty, had told the trial that money laundering was "absolutely not" happening at the pub. He recalled Ready as a teetotal customer who would order coffee, which was "irritating" during busy periods.
