Crockart support for hacker

Edinburgh West Liberal Democrat MP Mike Crockart has given his backing to Scots-born Garry McKinnon currently fighting extradition to the United States.

Mr McKinnon is accused by American authorities of hacking into a US military computer system and could face up to 60 years in prison.

However, Mr Crockart believes that as Mr McKinnon suffers from Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, he should be tried within the UK.

Mr Crockart said: "This whole situation has arisen because of a imbalanced extradition treaty with the United States.

"If this dispute had arisen with any other country, Gary would not be suffering like this.

"It is time for the Treaty to be revisited, and for Gary to be tried here, at home."