EYEVINE The autistic Briton jailed for disrupting a Trump rally is struggling in US prison

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Michael Sandford, 20, was sentenced to 12 months in prison in the United States earlier this month after admitting a charge of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and disrupting an official function at the rally in a Las Vegas hotel in June. Sandford, of Dorking, Surrey, later allegedly told police that he wanted to "kill" Trump, who went on to win the US Presidential election. It has now been confirmed that US officials will not be pressing any further charges against Sandford.

He was haggard, grey and drawn and the suffering was very evident in his face Lynne Sandford

But his worried mother Lynne Sandford, who travelled to the US for the sentencing hearing, says six months behind bars in America has taken a toll on her son. She said: "He had his back to us in the courtroom and we had been told he couldn't acknowledge us. "His hair was dishevelled, he was in leg irons and he was shaking badly.

"A couple of times the lawyers had to steady him and calm him down. At one point he turned around briefly and I was shocked by his appearance. "He was haggard, grey and drawn and the suffering was very evident in his face. "His eyes were the worst. They were dreadfully swollen and puffy. "He got up to say his statement to the judge and he broke down.

EPA Lynne Sandford has made numerous appeals for lenience from US authorities for her son

"There was a slideshow of Michael's life playing on a loop [in the courtroom] from pictures I'd provided, which was lovely. "Although I had written a personal statement to the judge, I was completely caught off guard to be called to the stand to speak, especially without my statement in front of me. "It was terrifying to be put on the spot for the most influential speech of my life." Mrs Sandford said she was delighted with the way the judge took on board all of her son's character references, previous medical history and reports from the probation department and a psychiatrist.

President-Elect Donald Trump in pictures Tue, December 13, 2016 Donald John Trump is an American businessman and politician who is President-elect of the United States as well as chairman and president of The Trump Organization Play slideshow 1 of 64

The reports confirmed that he was having a "psychotic episode" and that, at the time of the rally, he was barely able to look after himself. The judge concluded that Sandford's actions were as a result of an undiagnosed illness and, as such, the incident was a one-off. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison. However he has already served six months and is expected to have his sentence shortened by a further two months for good behaviour, meaning he only has four months left to serve. He was also fined US $200 and must partake in a rehab programme and keep taking his medication.

REUTERS After he was captured, Michael Sandford allegedly claimed he intended to kill Donald Trump

After the sentencing, all of the family present got the chance to visit Sandford and treat him to some Christmas gifts. Mrs Sandford said: "After the result, we were all allowed to visit him together at the courthouse for five minutes in the same room I had been in before, where we were separated by a mesh screen. "I showed him some Christmas cards and I had taken a little wrapped Christmas gift for him which he watched me unwrap. "He was very touched by its contents - a Christmas decoration he'd made for me as a child and one I'd made for him, and two new personal ones for him to hang on the tree next Christmas.

PA The family were allowed to visit Michael two days after his sentencing

"Despite the initial good news in court, Michael remained as anxious as ever, and within a few hours was panicking that, now he had a lower sentence, the state would file more charges. "It was so hard to hear all that elation draining out of him just a few hours after such good news." The family was then allowed to arrange a further visit to see Sandford two days after his sentencing and the whole family got the chance to talk to him, including his younger sister who he is very close to. On that visit they learned that the state would not be pressing any further charges but, despite the initial elation, Mrs Sandford said that her son quickly became concerned again.

EPA Mrs Sandford has previously expressed concern that her son won't be able to handle 12 months in jail