Pentagon hacker loses appeal to escape US trial

A former pupil of Highgate Wood School, who is accused of hacking into top military computers, has today lost a Law Lords appeal against being extradited to the US. Gary McKinnon, 42, could face life in a US prison if he is found guilty of accessing milit

A former pupil of Highgate Wood School, who is accused of hacking into top military computers, has today lost a Law Lords appeal against being extradited to the US.

Gary McKinnon, 42, could face life in a US prison if he is found guilty of accessing military and Nasa computers from his flat in Hillfield Avenue, Crouch End, in 2002.

McKinnon, who now lives in Enfield, admits hacking into the computer system, but claims he was trying to find information on UFOs.

He is accused of causing $700,000 of damage when he broke into Nasa and naval networks in 2002.

The US authorities said his hacking had shut down an entire army network and disrupted government functions.

He lost his case at the High Court in 2006 before taking it to the Lords today. McKinnon is now expected to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. But today's ruling will leave him in legal limbo, force him to report to police every Friday and bar him from accessing the internet.

For the full story see tomorrow's Ham & High