Hacker 'distraught' at extradition

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Gary McKinnon, 42, who claimed he was looking for UFO files, has lost a string of legal battles against his extradition, culminating in a failed last-ditch appeal at the European Court of Human Rights last month.

His parents and girlfriend joined supporters in London for a demonstration outside the Home Office, calling on the Government to prevent him from being handed over to American authorities.

Mr McKinnon, an unemployed systems analyst from Wood Green, north London, admits accessing 97 US Navy, Army, Nasa and Pentagon computers, but he said he was motivated by curiosity and only got in because of lax security.

The US government said he stole passwords and deleted files. Glasgow-born Mr McKinnon faces up to 70 years in prison if he is found guilty.

Lucy Clarke, who has been with Mr McKinnon for the last three and a half years, said: "He is a broken man - he is distraught and very scared. All we can do is wait. The whole family has been living in terror."

Miss Clarke, 37, who works as a secretary, said she hoped the action would raise public awareness of his plight and highlight the "one-sided" nature of the extradition treaty.

Demonstrators wore T-shirts stating "Give Gary McKinnon a Fair Trial", chanted and held up placards with messages such as "No Evidence Required, No Justice Required" and "UK Law for UK Citizens".

His father, Charlie McKinnon, travelled from his Glasgow home to support his son.

The 63-year-old scaffolder said: "I don't want him to go to America. There is no hope for him to face a fair trial there - they have made up their minds."