WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is in court for a sentencing hearing that could see him receive a year in jail for breaching his bail and hiding in the Ecuadorian embassy.
The 47-year-old, wearing a black jacket over a grey sweatshirt and sporting a clipped beard, raised his fist in a gesture of defiance as he arrived in a van at Southwark Crown Court in London.
The case is being played out in front of a packed public gallery, including dozens of pro-Assange protesters, some of whom are watching the case in a separate room. Presiding is her Honour Judge Deborah Taylor, recorder of Westminster.
In mitigation for Assange Mark Summers QC, told the court his client had been ‘gripped’ by fears of rendition to the US over the years because of his work with WikiLeaks.
He said: ‘As threats rained down on him from America, they overshadowed everything as far as he was concerned. They dominated his thoughts. They were not invented by him, they were gripping him throughout.’
Addressing the court, Assange apologised for his decision to flee, saying: ‘I found myself struggling through terrifying circumstances. I did what I thought at the time was best, which I hope will lead to a legal resolution between Ecuador and Sweden.’
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The 47-year-old raised his fist in a gesture of defiance as he arrived in a van for sentencing today at Southwark Crown Court in London
Assange looked less dishevelled as he arrived in court this morning after seemingly having shaved since his arrest at the Ecuadorian Embassy on April 11
Assange was found guilty of breaching the Bail Act at a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court earlier this month after being arrested at the Ecuadorian Embassy.
He was accused of sexual offences in Sweden in 2010, and after exhausting his legal options against an extradition order, went to the Ecuadorian Embassy on June 19, 2012.
A warrant for his arrest was issued 10 days later.
At the hearing on April 11 District Judge Michael Snow remanded Assange in custody and branded him a ‘narcissist who cannot get beyond his own selfish interests’.
The judge said: ‘This is a case which merits the maximum sentence, which is 12 months in the Crown Court.’
Press photographers crowd around the custody van that had brought Assange to the court from prison
Assange, pictured during his court appearance hours after his arrest on April 11
Julian Assange pictured as he is led out of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in handcuffs following his arrest by British police on April 11
Assange gestures to the media from a police vehicle on his arrival at Westminster Magistrates Court hours after he was dragged out of the Ecuadorian embassy
Last week Assange supporters protested outside the Supreme Court calling for him to be released.
A large red banner said ‘Free Julian Assange’ while another featured his face and a message of ‘Free Julian Assange! Jail The War Criminals!’
Assange’s father John Shipton told Good Morning Britain he wants his son to return to Australia, ‘for some fresh air and a chance to consider what he’s done.’
He claimed the WikiLeaks founder had spent a ‘crushing’ 18 months in isolation despite entertaining a host of high-profile celebrity guests during his stay at the Ecuadorian Embassy.
Among Assange’s visitors at the embassy were actress Pamela Anderson, singer Lady GaGa, football star Eric Cantona and film directors Michael Moore and Oliver Stone.
The Wikileaks founder was holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy since 2012. Here is is pictured every year during the seven year stay
This graphic shows where Assange was allowed to go within the Ecuadorean Embassy in London during his near seven years living there
Mr Shipton, who spent every Christmas at the embassy with his son, said he wants him to return home, ‘for the sake of his health.’
He told ITV he ‘felt anguish’ for Assange when he saw footage of his dramatic arrest a fortnight ago.
Assange, 47, has been holed up under asylum inside the embassy since 2012 when he was accused of sexual assault by two women in Sweden.
The Australian denied their claims but refused to travel to Sweden to face them, saying it was part of a ruse to extradite him to the US due to his involvement in the leaking of a huge amount of classified documents in 2010.
Those charges were dropped in May 2017, but Swedish prosecutors say they are now re-examining the case after a request by one of the alleged victim’s lawyers.
The United States has also been trying extradite him over the leaks of classified documents through the Wikileaks website in 2010.
WikiLeaks founder Assange (pictured in May 2017) came under intense scrutiny after the website began releasing hundreds of thousands of classified US diplomatic cables