Vicar fears son will kill himself if extradited to the US on cyber-hacking charges

An autistic man accused of hacking into US government computers and stealing huge amounts of data "could kill himself" if he is extradited, his father has warned a court.

Lauri Love, who has Asperger's Syndrome, has a long history of severe mental health and physical illnesses according to his parents who added that there is a "high probability" that he would commit suicide if sent to America.

His mental health, combined with the deep stress of separation while waiting for trial and during a possible jail sentence, could drive him to end his life, they said.

Love is accused of hacking various high-profile US sites including the Federal Reserve, the Department of Defence, Nasa and the FBI.

American authorities want the 31-year-old, who lives with his parents in Suffolk, to stand trial there over charges of cyber-hacking, which his lawyers say could lead to him spend up to 99 years in prison if found guilty.

Reverend Alexander Love, a prison chaplain who himself works with vulnerable people at risk of suicide, told an extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court that those he helps often see killing themselves as their only solution to a future they cannot see.

Reverend Love, who described his son as having a "strong ethical imperative", said: "The thing that I have discovered in the last year is that if Lauri is at home he has a support network."

He said his son now puts his skills to good use, running a business with a friend advising companies how to beef up their cyber security.

"He seems to be gainfully using his knowledge for the betterment of others, and I find that to be quite gratifying."