FEARS FOR HACKER FACING EXTRADITION

Mr McKinnon, who has Asperger's syndrome, faces up to 60 years in jail for breaking into the American systems after the September 11 terror attacks.

Trish Godman MSP, whose son Gary Mulgrew was jailed for three years for fraud after being extradited to the US, said she was "deeply disappointed" Home Secretary Alan Johnson had decided the Government will not intervene in the case.

Ms Godman said: "I know only too well what Britons extradited to the US have to face.

"Everything I know about Gary McKinnon, and the particular vulnerability his Asperger's gives him, tells me he will not survive the grave toll of extradition.

"I am deeply disappointed that my Westminster colleagues failed to intervene to halt Gary's extradition.

"Governments should stand up for the most vulnerable of their citizens and in this case compassion should prevail. It cannot be beyond the realms of possibility to try him in the UK."

Glasgow-born Mr McKinnon's legal team is to apply for a judicial review within days, but have warned that if that was not granted then he could be extradited by Christmas.

He says he was looking for evidence of UFOs and wants to be tried in the UK.