An autistic man accused of hacking into US government computers can be extradited to stand trial, a judge has ruled.

Lauri Love, who has Asperger syndrome, is alleged to have stolen huge amounts of data from US agencies including the Federal Reserve, the Department of Defense, NASA and the FBI.

The 31-year-old allegedly carried out the online attacks in 2012 and 2013.

American authorities have been pressing for Mr Love, who lives with his parents near Newmarket in Suffolk, to face trial in the US over charges of cyber-hacking.

His lawyers say he could face up to 99 years in prison if found guilty.


Mr Love stood in the dock wearing a purple sash as a belt as district judge Nina Tempia ruled he can be sent to the US, where he could face three separate trials in different jurisdictions.

"I'm going to extradite Mr Love but what I mean by that is I'm going to send his case to the Secretary of State," Judge Tempia told the hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London.

Image: Mr Love speaks to the media outside court

She said Mr Love faces "extremely serious charges for offences of computer hacking" and while she acknowledged his physical and mental health issues, she was "satisfied" his needs would met by US authorities.

There were gasps in court as Judge Templa gave her decision, which followed a case hearing in June.

Mr Love, who was told he had 14 days to appeal, embraced friends and family, who appeared shocked and angry.

"If you have come for justice then you have missed it," he told media gathered in the courtroom afterwards.

His solicitor Karen Todner said the family were "extremely disappointed" with the ruling, but it was "not the end of the road" and they would be lodging an appeal.

Ahead of the latest hearing, Mr Love said he held little hope of justice if he was extradited, and suggested a jail term in the US could cause his health to deteriorate and lead to a mental breakdown or suicide.

He and his family want him to be tried in the UK rather than the US, which he said "coerces" people into pleading guilty to get reduced sentences.

The case was considered to be the first substantive test of the "forum bar", which was introduced by former Home Secretary Theresa May to allow courts to block extradition if they feel it is in the best interests of justice.