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The father of the man accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump says his son must have been brainwashed since he has never shown any interest in politics.

Michael Sandford's father Paul Davey said his son would struggle to even name the president.

He also said the 18-year-old was so gentle by nature he would ot even let his family use fly spray.

The 50-year-old said he has no idea why his son would attempt to shoot the billionaire presidential candidate but said they had told American authorities they were worried about his behaviour but claimed they refused to act.

He said: “He’s never shown any violent tendencies before, he’s never been a bad person, he’s a nice kid and literally wouldn’t hurt a fly - he used to tell us not to use fly spray because he didn’t want any flies to die.

“Looking back, I don’t want to use the term radicalised but we don’t know who he has been speaking with - this just isn’t him.

“It’s an absolute shock, he’s never been violent in the slightest, he’s always been a polite and peaceful boy.

“It’s totally out of character and we’re worried about what has happened to him since he’s been in America because obviously it’s a dramatic change.

“Whether he’s been blackmailed or put up to it, that’s the only thing me and his mum can think of. “It’s so against his nature and obviously with his Aspergers, we think somebody has got hold of him and done something.”

He said the incident could have been a “cry for help.”

Read more:Inside Sandford's war themed bedroom

“He has never mentioned Donald Trump, the reason it is such a shock is because he shows no interest in anything like that,” he explained.

“If I asked him to name the Prime Minister he’d be able to tell me but he wouldn’t know any other politicians. I doubt he would even know who the President of the United States is.

Pictures inside Michael Sandford’s room reveal how he decorated his room in camouflage wallpaper and army-style netting while hanging almost a dozen imitation guns on the wall.

(Image: Facebook) (Image: Facebook)

Many of the firearms are similar to the AR-15 style assault rifle recently used in the Orlando by ISIS supporting terrorist Omar Mateen who massacred 49 people inside the The Pulse nightclub.

The images also show his walls plastered with movie and PlayStation2 posters -most of them from games which use extreme gun violence.

Bizarrely the room is also scattered with a number of soft toys including a penguins, a polar bear and several fish.

Following the 20-year-old’s arrest, his parents believe their son was brainwashed into carrying out the killing on behalf of someone else.

Unemployed Sandford faces up to 10 years in prison after trying to grab a gun from a police officer to shoot the billionaire while at a Presidential rally in Las Vegas on Saturday.

He lists a group for AK-47 guns among his likes on Facebook, and another group titled ‘Guns!!!!’.

The Brit, from Dorking in Surrey, has appeared in a US court in shackles after his dramatic arrest was captured on video.

The assassination attempt came a day after the would-be killer had visited a gun range to learn how to shoot.

(Image: Facebook)

Robots Wars fanatic Sandford, who suffers from Aspergers and OCD, told investigators he expected to die in the attempt, which he had been planning for a year.

Sandford moved to the US just over a year ago after meeting an American girl in Britain and moved to be with her.

“It will be an outside influence as to why he’s done it, he’s never been like that and it’s not something he’d do off his own back. Maybe it was a cry for help.

“He would never pull the trigger of the gun if it came to it.”

Sandford, who had queued for more than nine hours to attend the presidential rally, was caught on video tape in the Treasure Island Casino’s Mystere Theatre, where Trump was holding a rally, leaving his seat before lunging for officer Ameel Jacob’s gun.

In a court report filed by Secret Service agent Joseph Hall he detailed how the Brit approached the cop under the pretence of wanting an autograph from the billionaire.

The document said Sandford, who suffered from anorexia as a teenager, had “targeted Officer Jacobs because he believed he saw the officer’s holster in an unlocked position.

(Image: REUTERS/David Becker)

“Sandford reason it would be the easiest way to acquire a gun to shoot Trump.”

The Brit then said he had planned the attack for more than a year and “if he were on the street tomorrow, he would try this again”.

When asked what he would have done had he not made an attempt on Trump’s life he said he had bought ticket a for Trump rally in Phoenix, Arizona, where he would try again.

He also told how he had visited the Battlefield Vegas Gun range to learn how to use a gun.

“Sandford said he went to the Battlefield Vegas Gun range in Las Vegas on June 17, 2016, to learn how to shoot a gun,” it stated.

“Sandford claimed that this was his first time he had ever fired a gun.

“According to Sandford he fired 20 rounds from a 9mm Glock pistol for the purpose of learning how to use it.”

(Image: Facebook)

Sandford suffered from mental health problems so severe, he was hospitalised for four weeks when he was 14-years-old.

Mr Davey posted to Facebook in February 2011: “Sad and stressful day. Mike taken in to hospital for 4 weeks. Love you lots son.”

To encourage their son’s interests, his parents took him to Robot Wars live shows.

Five years ago the trio fought under the name “Team ENIGMA” doing battle with their machines.

The youngster owned had three heavyweight fighting robots, including one that was used on hit BBC Two TV show “Robot Wars.”

His prize robot, named Steel Avenger, boasted a pneumatically-powered axe and a ramming blade to inflict damage on its opponents.

John Findlay, the expert behind the original show, told how he bought and sold robots to Sandford.

Mr Findlay said: “I’m totally shocked. When I saw his picture it was just totally freaky.

(Image: Reuters)

“He went through a phase of buying a load of robots starting around five years ago, then he just disappeared.

“He was quite active in the robot community for a while - buying famous robots from the show.

“He was a bit obsessed.

“I then got them working for him because he had absolutely no idea about robots.”

Mr Findlay said Sandford suddenly got back in contact around June 2014

saying he needed to sell all his robots as soon as possible.

In a Facebook message Sandford wrote: “Sorry to bother you again Jonno, having a financial crisis, so it you can pay now all 3 are yours for £1500, I paid that for SA alone.

“Please let me know again don’t mean to keep harassing you, but I’m sure you know what its’ like having no money, Thanks”

According to his dad Sandford moved to the States 15 months ago after falling in love with an American girl who lived in Surrey.

When she returned to New Jersey with her parents he became depressed so his family gave him money to rent a flat in America and continue seeing her.

His dad said he became increasingly distant from them and were no longer sure he was still with his girlfriend.

Read more:Cops reveal Sandford's first words after arrest

“We don’t know if he was still with his girlfriend because he doesn’t share any personal information like that,” added Mr Davey.

“Since he moved out there it became slowly harder and harder to get in touch with him.

“He does Skype, but it’s always with a white background behind him so you don’t know where he is.

“Because of his condition, he never talks about his private life and it’s always had quite an impact on how he behaves.

“He left school when he was 15 because he couldn’t cope with it all so he’s got no qualifications or job experience.

“Since he’s been out there it’s difficult to get any information out of him. About three months ago the money ran out so we sent him some more and asked him to come back.

“He has no interest in politics, the world, geography or anything.

(Image: JOHN GURZINSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

“He’s not a typical teenager because he doesn’t drink or smoke or do drugs, he’s never had any interest in that.

“He liked Robot Wars as a teenager, but even that got a bit too much for him because he didn’t like the large crowds.

“He’s been refusing to come back and we were worried about him, we were in contact with the American Embassy telling them we were worried about him.

The American authorities said ‘he’s over 18 we can’t do anything.”

Mr Davey and Sandford’s mother, 41-year-old Lynne Sanford, who was yesterday (TUES) helping police with their enquiries, said they were shown no indication that he would attempt to shoot Trump.

The father said his family are “absolutely devastated” and have not spoken to him since the incident and have had little communication with the authorities.

Officials have said Sandford was living in his car in the States illegally on an expired visa.

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Mr Davey added: “I think the visa ran out a few weeks ago but he said he renewed it. He should have come home and few months ago but he didn’t want to.

“The idea was that he goes out there, gets experience and sees the world, then comes home and builds a proper life.”

Mr Davey is making plans to travel to America to see his son.

Following a brief hearing in Las Vegas he was ordered by US Magistrate Judge George Foley Jr. to be held without bail until his next appearance in court on July 5.

The justice found Sandford a danger to the community and a flight risk.

Assistant US Attorney Jared Grimmer argued for Sandford to remain on remand arguing he was unemployed and living in the States illegally with no ties to Las Vegas.

He has been charged with an act of violence on restricted grounds to which he pleaded not guilty.