Home Secretary Amber Rudd has signed an order for the extradition of Lauri Love to the US where he is accused of computer hacking offences, the Home Office has said.

Lauri Love, 31, who has Asperger's Syndrome, is accused of stealing huge amounts of data from US agencies including the Federal Reserve, the Department of Defence, Nasa and the FBI.

If convicted in the US, the electrical engineering student who lives with his parents near Stradishall, near Bury St Edmunds, faces a maximum jail sentence of up to 99 years.

Mr Love, who also suffers from depression and severe eczema, has said a jail term in the US would cause his health to deteriorate and would lead to a mental breakdown or suicide.

Lauri Love faces a maximum jail sentence of up to 99 years Credit: ITV News Anglia

More than 100 MPs signed a letter to President Obama stressing their "deep concern for the safety" Mr Love.

It is alleged that between October 2012 and October 2013, Mr Love placed hidden "shells" or "backdoors" within the networks he compromised, allowing them to return and steal confidential data.

He is accused of causing "millions of dollars" worth of damage.

Lauri Love has Asperger's Syndrome Credit: ITV News Anglia

Extradition laws changed in 2013 to remove the Home Secretary’s ability to consider human rights issues - such as Mr Love's health issues.

District Judge Nina Tempia ruled that Mr Love could be extradited during a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on September 16.

Following the ruling, Mrs Rudd had two months to order the extradition of Mr Love, who could face the possibility of three separate trials in different jurisdictions.

A Home Office spokesman said: "On Monday 14 November, the Secretary of State, having carefully considered all relevant matters, signed an order for Lauri Love's extradition to the United States.

"Mr Love has been charged with various computer hacking offences which included targeting US military and federal government agencies."