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A dream trip to America was ruined for one couple when one of them accidentally ticked a box effectively admitting to be a terrorist.

Pensioner John Stevenson was set to fly to New York on a £3,000 trip with wife Marion to celebrate his 70th birthday.

But the dream trip had to be called off after an apparent computer glitch in John's electronic visa application.

He believes that the glitch may have wrongly registered his answer to the question 'Are you a terrorist' as 'yes'.

The grandad-of-five has now been refused entry to the US and told he is considered “a threat to their national security”.

A call from the US Customs and Border Protection left their dream in tatters as they told him his visa application has resulted in him being branded a terrorist, reports the Daily Record.

The distraught cabbie has also been warned the error is likely to see him targeted by customs officials if he flies anywhere in the world.

The hitch occurred while John was filling out the online application - with only one explanation.

John said: “I’m a pensioner from Greenock, not some international terrorist. It’s laughable.

“I couldn’t even lift a gun, let alone fire one. I’ve never been in trouble in my life and it’s ridiculous that I’m being banned from travelling to the States.

“I filled out my wife’s ESTA and everything went through fine. Then, just as I had almost finished filling out my ESTA, my session timed out.

“I typed my passport number back in and it said continue where you left off. I thought, ‘Oh that’s a relief’ and finished the application.”

A week later, John was shocked to discover it had been rejected.

After contacting US Customs and Border Protection, he was told it was because he was now showing up on their system as a known terrorist. People travelling to the US must have an authorised ESTA to be allowed into the country for up to 90 days.

John said: “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and can only assume that the answer to the question ‘Are you a terrorist?’ switched from no to yes when my computer timed out.

There’s no other possible explanation.

“The only time I’ve been in court was for jury service and now I’m being treated like a criminal.

“I tried to explain it was clearly a mix-up but their security office says when they check my passport number, it says I am classed as a terrorist.

“It’s ludicrous to think that an elderly man like me could pose a threat to US security. This was a special trip because it was for my 70th.

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"All of the family were excited and we had planned everything we wanted to do. Marion always wanted to see New York at Christmas time. This has left us shattered.

“We don’t even want to think about Christmas or celebrating now. It’s just turned into a nightmare.”

John has been told his only hope of sorting the situation is to travel to the US Embassy in London, where he could face days of intense questioning.

The couple are unable to make the trip and have been forced to cancel the holiday.

John added: “My wife spent two nights in tears because we are both getting older and this was the last chance we’d get to go to America.”

Marion, 71, added: “It’s shocking. I don’t know why that question is on the form in the first place.”

The US Embassy and Consulates in the UK said they do not comment on individual cases.