Christopher Tappin

Orpington: ‘How will Christopher Tappin survive in Texas jail?’

Kate Nelson, Senior Reporter
Thursday, February 2, 2012
11:06 AM

The mother of US hacker Gary McKinnon has questioned how retired businessman Christopher Tappin ‘will survive’ in a Texas jail.

Gary McKinnon with solicitor Karen Todner after an extradition hearing at Bow Street magistrates court in 2006

Former Kent County Golf Union president, of Larch Dene, Farnborough failed in his attempt to take his case to the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

His solicitor Karen Todner told the Bromley Times: “He could expect to be extradited within 10 days of the ruling.”

Mr Tappin will be tried in El Paso on charges of selling parts the Americans claim he knew were to be used for Iranian missiles.

Speaking outside court on Tuesday Mr Tappin said: “I was relying on the British justice system to protect me from false allegations made by a maverick government agency clearly operating outside the law in the US.”

Gary McKinnnon's mum Janis Sharp

Ms Todner also represents Asperger’s sufferer Gary McKinnon who has been under threat of extradition for 10 years after admitting hacking into top US military computers. He claims he was only searching for evidence of UFOs.

His mother Janis Sharp told the Bromley Times: “I feel so sorry for Christopher Tappin and his family. He is a man in his 60s. How is he going to survive there? It is just so scary. There are gangs and horrendous abuse goes on. British people should have the same rights as Americans do.”

Mr Tappin lost an appeal in the High Court on January 13 but Ms Todner had hoped the highest court in the UK would refuse the US extradition request.

The 64-year-old claims he was entrapped by FBI agents. If he is convicted he faces 35 years in jail.

On Friday (27) High Court judges ruled Mr McKinnon’s extradition must be decided upon by July and criticised the system for taking so long for the case to be heard.