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Gordon Brown made an unsuccessful plea to the U.S. for computer hacker Gary McKinnon to be allowed to serve any prison sentence in Britain, the latest WikiLeaks documents revealed today. Then prime minister, Mr Brown was rebuffed when he suggested the computer hacker could plead guilty in return for not being extradited to the U.S. His offer was included in a diplomatic cable obtained by Wikileaks.
News of the deal came as Mr McKinnon's mother Janis Sharp gave evidence to members of the Home Affairs Committee who are examining extradition law. Mr McKinnon has been at the centre of an extraordinary legal and political tussle as he faces up to 60 years in prison in the U.S.
A High Court decision on whether his extradition could go ahead was adjourned in May and ministers have announced a review of existing rules. Mr Brown made his unsuccessful direct intervention in August 2009, according to The Guardian.
The move was contained in a secret cable from Louis Susman, the U.S. ambassador in Britain, to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Mr Susman wrote: 'PM Brown, in a one-on-one meeting with the ambassador, proposed a deal - that McKinnon plead guilty, make a statement of contrition, but serve any sentence of incarceration in the UK.
'Brown cited deep public concern that McKinnon, with his medical condition, would commit suicide or suffer injury if imprisoned in a U.S. facility.'
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