Hacker's extradition to US delayed

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Mr Johnson said he had "stopped the clock" on proceedings to give Mr McKinnon's lawyers time to consider medical reports and make legal representations to European justices.

Earlier this month the High Court refused the 43-year-old permission to appeal to the new Supreme Court against his pending removal to America to face charges of breaking into the Pentagon's military networks.

Lawyers for Mr McKinnon, who has Asperger's syndrome, were known to be considering an application to the European Court of Human Rights.

Mr Johnson said: "We have stopped the clock ticking on the representation to the European Court because new medical evidence has been provided."

The Home Secretary added that he had to ensure that Mr McKinnon's rights under Article 3 of the Human Rights Act - which stipulates that no one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment - was respected. "It's that new medical evidence that I will be looking at very carefully," he said.

Mr McKinnon's mother Janis Sharp described the new medical evidence as "very powerful".

She told The Times: "I'm really glad the Home Secretary has decided to look at it, because Gary's health has already deteriorated so much. After eight years of constant stress, he is suicidal. We should not have a Government that is so powerless it cannot stand up against America for the right of its own citizens."

Mr McKinnon, from Wood Green in north London, is accused of breaking into the US's military computer system but says he was just seeking UFO evidence.

His supporters want him to be put on trial in the UK on charges of computer misuse, which would allow him to avoid extradition. They also criticise the US-UK extradition treaty, saying it does not treat US and British citizens equally.