Hacker vows to fight on in extradition battle

Taking his case to Europe

31 July 2008 16:50 GMT / By Katie Scott

Gary McKinnon, the hacker facing extradition to the United States on charges of breaking into military and NASA computers, has vowed to fight on.

McKinnon told the BBC that he was obviously disappointed with the House of Lords decision to reject his appeal against being sent to the States, where he could face life in prison.

However, he has said he is going to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Glasgow-born McKinnon told BBC Radio 5 Live that he was "pretty broken up" by the Law Lords' ruling, although he had expected the outcome.

He admitted he had been "misguided" in what he did, but said he believed at the time that he was acting in the public interest.

"It felt like a moral crusade", he said.

He also maintains that the US authorities' allegations that he caused damage to their systems is unfounded.

"I'm extremely sorry I did it, but I think the reaction is completely overstated. I should face a penalty in Britain and I'd gladly do my time here", he said.

"To go from, you know, perhaps a year or two in a British jail to 60 years in an American prison is ridiculous."

A Home Office spokesman said that McKinnon would have 14 days in which to seek appeal at the European Court of Human Rights.