**The mother of a British computer hacker facing extradition to the US has appealed to President Barack Obama to intervene in the affair.**Janis Sharp spoke after her son, Gary McKinnon, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, lost a court bid to avoid extradition.
The US wants to try him for what it calls the biggest military computer hack ever, in 2001 and 2002, but he says he was seeking evidence on UFOs.
Ms Sharp said: “Please hear us, Obama. I know you would do the right thing.”
A letter has been sent to the US president signed by 40 British MPs asking him to step in and “bring this shameful episode to an end”.
Speaking outside the court Ms Sharp said President Obama should help those campaigning on her 43-year-old son’s behalf make the world “a more compassionate place”.
"Obama wouldn’t have this. He doesn’t want the first guy extradited for computer misuse to be a guy with Asperger’s [Syndrome], a UFO guy.
“My predecessor has already sought and received clear assurances from the US that Mr McKinnon’s health and welfare needs would be met, should he be extradited”
Alan Johnson, Home Secretary
“I’m just praying, please hear us, Obama, because I know you would do the right thing,” she added.
Mr McKinnon admits hacking by accessing 97 government computers belonging to organisations such as the US Navy and Nasa, but denies it was malicious. He also denies the allegation he caused damage costing $800,000 (£487,000).
Whether or not he can appeal to the new UK Supreme Court - due to launch in October - will be decided later, Lord Justice Burnton said.
Glasgow-born Mr McKinnon had challenged refusals by the home secretary and the director of public prosecutions (DPP) to try him in the UK.
The home secretary insists he has no power to demand the trial take place in the UK.
The DPP refused to order a UK trial, saying the bulk of the evidence was located in the US and Mr McKinnon’s actions were directed against the US military infrastructure.
The court was also asked to rule on whether his Asperger’s Syndrome - a form of autism - meant he could not be extradited to the US.
Mr McKinnon’s lawyers argued extradition was “unnecessary, avoidable and disproportionate” and had not taken place in other cases.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: "Mr McKinnon is accused of serious crimes and the US has a lawful right to seek his extradition, as we do when we wish to prosecute people who break our laws.
"The court judgement has also made absolutely clear that the DPP’s decision not to prosecute in the UK was the right one.
“My predecessor has already sought and received clear assurances from the US that Mr McKinnon’s health and welfare needs would be met, should he be extradited.”
Mr McKinnon faces up to 70 years in prison if convicted in the US.
He has always insisted he was looking for classified documents on UFOs which he believed the US authorities had suppressed.
Ms Sharp said her son - who did not attend court on Friday - had been “naive enough to admit to computer misuse without having a lawyer and without one being present”.
US-UK EXTRADITION TREATY
- 2003 treaty, agreed in aftermath of 9/11 attacks
- Offence must be punishable by one year or more in jail in both countries
- US has to prove “reasonable suspicion” for extradition of a British citizen
- To extradite an American from the US, British must prove “probable cause”
- Since 2004, 56 people have been sent from the UK to the US for trial, and 26 for US to UK
- US courts have granted about 70% of UK extradition requests, while nearly 90% of US requests have been granted
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She said she was “heartbroken” and feared for his health.
“He’s very ill, he’s got really bad chest pains, it’s affected him emotionally, mentally, every way, he’s terrified,” she said.
In a statement, his lawyer Karen Todner, asked: "What does it take to make this government sit up and listen to the clear public view that Gary McKinnon should not be extradited
“The extradition treaty with America was brought in to facilitate the extradition of terrorists and it must be clear to anyone following this case that [he] is no terrorist.”
She added that he was “clearly not equipped” to deal with the American penal system.
In February the Crown Prosecution Service refused to bring charges against Mr McKinnon in the UK, following a ruling by former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to allow his extradition.
Mr McKinnon has already appealed unsuccessfully to the House of Lords and the European Court of Human Rights and his latest judicial reviews in the High Court are likely to be his last chance.
His lawyers say the authorities have not given proper consideration to his Asperger’s Syndrome, which could have “disastrous consequences” - including suicide - if he was to be extradited.
Asperger’s Syndrome sufferers commonly become obsessed with certain activities and interests and have a level of social naivety when it comes to evaluating the consequences of their actions.