Man who kept Nazi flag ordered to stay in Carstairs hospital

A Newton Mearns man who kept a hoard of extreme far-right material who also searched where former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon lived is to remain in hospital for treatment.

Darren Steele had been held by police in February 2023 after his step-mother reported him having an axe at the family home.

Officers went on to discover a haul of other weapons - some with a Third Reich symbol - as well as Nazi flags and chemicals potentially used to make explosives.

The 30 year-old was back in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow today.

It was there in October last year he had faced a number of terror charges.

But, Steele was acquitted after prosecutors accepted he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time.

Lord Young imposed both compulsion and restriction orders for him to remain at the State Hospital in Carstairs without limit of time.

The court heard the circumstances to what police found at Steele's home.

He had been having dinner with his grandmother when he stated: "Tonight's the night."

Steele later had an axe and said: "I am just holding it. I would not hurt you anyway."

Steele's step-mum called for help. He started hurling abuse while holding the weapon at shoulder height.

Both women bravely tried to grab the axe before they managed to bundle him out of the house.

Steele was heard to threaten: "Someone is going to get hurt tonight."

Police arrived and found the axe in the living room as well as a ball-bearing gun.

Prosecutor Kath Harper KC then explained: "Officers saw extreme right-wing materials including nazi flags and other paraphernalia.

"They noted many weapons including knives and machetes - some of which had Third Reich symbols embossed on them.

"They also saw a Second World War-style gas mask."

Counter terrorism officers were alerted with "several items of concern" - chemicals and powders linked to the making of explosives as well as a US Army munitions handbook - further discovered.

Miss Harper added: "As a result of these findings, the entire area and nearby houses were evacuated and a 150-metre cordon put in place."

The court heard the other weapons seized included an air rifle, dagger, machete and a knife.

Steele had a total of 164 documents related to creating firearms and ammunition which included plans for making a pistol and a shotgun.

Miss Harper: "He also had a number of flags including one with a Swastika and one for the Waffen SS.

"Steele sent images of Nazi flags to his aunt using social media app Telegram."

Steele - who also owned protective body armour - looked online for hate speech, far-right extremism and conspiracy theories.

Miss Harper stated: "He made a number of internet searches related to making and buying firearms, making artillery and attempts to identify Nicola Sturgeon's addresses."

The advocate depute accepted much of the recovered material was freely available to purchase online or download.

She added: "The volume and nature of it shows he has more than a general interest in the right-wing ideology and weaponry.

"A specific target in his attempts to manufacture explosives has not been identified."

Steele told police the chemicals would not cause harm. He said items such as bottles of bleach were only for "cleaning" and that he "enjoyed the outdoors".

He has been kept in Carstairs since he appeared in court last year.

Dr Duncan Alcock - a consultant psychiatrist at the state hospital who has been treating Steele - had compiled a number of reports on him.

The medic today/yesterday told the court that his opinion is that Steele should remain at Carstairs under compulsion and restriction orders for further ongoing treatment.

Lord Young also made Steele the subject of the notification requirements of the Counter Terrorism Act for the 10 years.

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