Nazi-saluting teen who planned college shooting spared jail

A Nazi-saluting teenager who threatened to carry out a college shooting has been spared jail.

Theodore Hopes has been sentenced to a two-year community order for making threats to kill.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard the 18-year-old said: "I want to go into Newtown College, I want to shoot people."

It was told Hopes, from Llandrindod Wells, Powys, wrote a "manifesto" and searched online about pipe bombs and secondary school attacks.

But the court was told there was no evidence Hopes took steps to act on the threats.

Jason Howells, prosecuting, said Hopes was arrested at his father's home in Llandrindod Wells in December 2025, and a police body camera captured him talking about wanting to kill himself and others.

At Brecon police station he was examined by health care professional Lesley Watson, who said Hopes had "dark thoughts of envy, rage and suicide".

He told her a gun he had had been taken away, but said: "I can still go in and stab people."

She told officers he was "dead behind the eyes" and "adamant on harming people".

The court heard on Thursday Hopes told her: "I want to go into Newton College, I want to shoot people."

Hopes told her, Watson said, he wanted to commit "suicide by police".

Hopes told officers that he had no intention of attacking anyone and had no grudges against people at the college.

Judge Paul Lewis KC told the court Hopes was twice referred to the Prevent counter extremism programme without success.

When his phone was searched by police they found a manifesto called "The end of Theo Hopes", which included the phrase: "Theo Hopes, mass murderer."

This was, the court heard, to be sent to political parties, the press and Dyfed-Powys Police commissioner after his death.

Hopes also visited websites selling human skulls and bones and bought an air gun, which was confiscated by police.

On his phone was a video of Hitler, which also showed Hopes giving a Nazi salute.

Martha Smith-Higgins, defending, said Hopes was autisic and had "read material that has shaped his young mind".

Judge Lewis said a report concluded Hopes was "misogynistic with far-right political leanings" but he said there was no evidence he had put into effect his views.

Hopes' two-year community order has a condition he undergo 30 days rehabilitation.

He was banned from using a computer or device connected to the internet for a year and banned from having more than one mobile phone.