'Nazi sympathiser' who planned machete attack at LGBT+ event hospitalised indefinitely

Ethan Stables was arrested after claiming he was ‘going to war’ on Facebook

A teenage white supremacist who plotted a machete attack at a gay pride event has been given an indefinite hospital order.

“Nazi sympathiser” Ethan Stables, now 20, was told he posed “a very real risk to the public” by Peter Collier QC, recorder of Leeds, as he passed sentence.

Armed police swooped on Stables as he walked towards the New Empire pub in his hometown of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, last summer.

Officers had been tipped off about a message he posted on a far-right Facebook group in which he claimed he was “going to war” and that he planned to “slaughter every single one of the gay b******s”.

He also filmed a video of himself setting fire to a gay pride flag and posing next to a swastika.

Although he was unarmed when he was arrested on 23 June, police found an axe, a machete and knives at his home, his trial at Leeds Crown Court heard. The prosecution argued that he was expected to return home to collect his weapons.

Stables, who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, testified that he posted comments on Facebook to impress far-right friends and was “ashamed” as he was bisexual. He claimed he was just a fantasist and was himself bisexual.

He was found guilty on 5 February of preparing terrorist acts, making threats to kill and possession of an explosive substance under suspicious circumstances.

Sentencing was delayed as psychiatric reports were prepared.

Stables sat motionless, dressed in a black suit and tie, as he was detained indefinitely in a psychiatric hospital.

Ethan Stables poses next to a swastika before his planned attack (SWNS) (SWNS.com)

Prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford previously told the jury Stables had conducted the research with an intention to carry out a “murderous attack” with a machete and axe.

The right-wing extremist had a swastika hanging on his bedroom wall and bought a new Nazi armband after his was taken by police when he was arrested.

Officers discovered that, as well as researching firearms, he had also looked into methods for making a bomb, the jury heard.

Police found a cache of weapons including an axe and a machete at Stables’ flat (SWNS) (SWNS.com)

Stables visited the New Empire in Barrow, Cumbria, three times on 23 June, 2017, to take photographs and carry out a “reconnaissance” of the premises.

But his plan was foiled after he told people about it on Facebook.

Sentencing Stables, Judge Collier said Stables had only been spared a custodial sentence due to his mental health condition.

He told Stables he would be made subject to both a Section 37 and Section 41 order under the mental health act.

A Section 41 order is also a “restriction order” and means Stables would only be released from the hospital unit by a mental health tribunal or the Ministry of Justice.

The judge said: “I said last time it was my judgement you had said many wild and crazy things but had done very little. But you are responsible for what you said and the jury believed that by your intention you were making plans to kill.”

He added: “The prosecution said it was a pack of lies as you tried to manipulate your way out of the situation. The very fact [your lying] is a live issue is one of the real risks you pose. Your responsibility is diminished by your condition. It is my clear decision the protection of the public requires a hospital order and a restriction order and that is what I make.”

The judge added that if he was to pass a custodial sentence the guidelines would have fallen somewhere between five and 10 years.

He said Stables remained a risk to the public.

Once released, Stables will be subject to a “conditional discharge” where he must report his whereabouts and other information indefinitely.

He will also be monitored by counterterrorism officers for a period of 10 years after his release.

If he were to fail to comply with the conditions, the Ministry of Justice would be informed and he could be recalled to hospital for further treatment.

SWNS