BRIT Michael Sandford was jailed for trying to grab a policeman's gun in a bid to shoot Donald Trump.

The 21-year-old, who suffers from autism, returned to the UK after serving less than half his year-long sentence.

2 Michael Sandford was jailed after he tried to grab a pistol from the holster of a police officer at a Donald Trump rally Credit: AP:Associated Press

But what led Sandford to carry out his crime and why was he locked up? Here's what we know.

Who is Michael Sandford?

Sandford was born in Dorking, Surrey, in 1996 and initially performed well at school.

He later struggled with various psychological ailments such as Asperger's Syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder, autism and depression, leaving school with no qualifications.

After moving out of the family home aged 16 to live in a flat on benefits, he fled to New York.

He had flown to the US to be reunited with American girlfriend Lauren, who he had met in Britain.

Five months after he arrived in January 2015, and with an expired visa, he attempted to seize an officer's gun at one of Donald Trump's early election rallies.

His mum Lynne was powerless to stop him travelling to the US despite his struggles with mental illness, and wants the law changed.

Michael had no previous interest in politics and had not even voted in the 2015 UK election.

Why was Michael Sandford jailed?

Sandford attempted to seize a pistol from the holster of a police officer at a Donald Trump rally in Las Vegas.

He got within 20ft of Trump at the rally but was overpowered when he attempted to grab the cop’s gun.

He had queued for nine hours to get a good spot.

Following his arrest, he told investigators he had planned to shoot the then-prospective Republican nominee for President.

On the day before the rally Michael went to a Las Vegas gun range to practise firing a Glock 17 pistol — the make and model carried by Trump’s police guards.

Sandford admitted staying in the US with an expired visa, possession of a gun and disrupting an official function.

Despite his offences carrying a maximum sentence of ten years, he was given a 12-month term after his lawyers defended him on the basis of his disability.

Why did Michael Sandford try to assassinate Donald Trump?

Sandford told The Sun how he lunged for a cop’s gun after voices in his head screamed: “Kill him!”

He was bundled out of a political rally in Las Vegas while suffering a psychotic episode.

Michael said: “I was hearing voices telling me to kill Donald Trump.

“They’d been coming on for a while and getting stronger and more frequent.

“At one point they were screaming at me."

2 Sandford's mother Lynne said her son had been tormented by Trump-supporting prison guards Credit: PA:Press Association

When was Sandford released?

The Brit was released from custody and arrived back at Heathrow Airport on 4 May 2017.

Sandford's mother said Trump-supporting prison guards had targeted her son during his time behind bars.