The CIA will never find him in this disguise: WikiLeaks boss Julian Assange still enjoys the festive season despite house arrest



If Christmas is traditionally a time of giving, it looks like whistlebower Julian Assange has had a very traditional festive holiday indeed.

The WikiLeaks founder is currently holed up in a Norfolk mansion on police bail and is facing charges of sexual misconduct in Sweden.

But that didn't stop Santa calling in at Ellingham Hall during his rounds on Christmas Eve to deliver an enormous sack of presents.

He knows if you've been bad or good: Julian Assange poses as Father Christmas in the grounds of Ellingham Hall. I light dusting of snow adds to the festive feel - but what does he have in that Santa sack?

Festive feast: Mr Assange enjoyed a traditional Christmas dinner with host Vaughan Smith and other guests. Sharp-eyed readers will notice that he has won his Christmas cracker tug-of-war and is looking for his prize

Clearly pleased with his work over the year, Mr Assange got into the Christmas spirit by dressing up as Father Christmas and proudly posed with a bulging sack bearing the inscription: 'Dear Santa, I've been very, very, very good (most of the time).'

On Christmas Day the 39-year-old Australian also sat down to a special dinner - complete with vintage wines and Christmas crackers - in the Georgian mansion's grand dining room with family and friends.



Is this how he gets his information? Judging by the mound of Christmas cards and fan mail, Mr Assange won't be short of reading material while under house arrest

Meals at the ten-bedroom manor are provided by a housekeeper, while excellent vintages of wine and port are available from the well-stocked cellar.

After his gut-busting feast of turkey and all the trimmings, Mr Assange and guests no doubt took a stroll through the 600-acre estate, which contains a sustainable farm complete with livestock, and a carp lake. But Mr. Assange would have had to have been careful not to wander too far - he has to wear an electronic tagging device as part of his bail conditions.

Private moment: In this contemplative shot Mr Assange appears to be sharing a conversation with a Christmas tree (perhaps he thinks it's a CIA plant)

Chiki-leaks: In a bid to pass the time while awaiting trial on Swedish sex charges, Mr Assange busies himself collecting eggs from the chicken coop on the 600-acre estate

The ex-computer hacker behind the release of 250,000 leaked files on the internetis staying at the mansion as a guest of free speech supporter Vaughan Smith, 47, a former captain in the Grenadier Guards.