A high court ruling blocking extradition to the US of Lauri Love, a student accused of breaking into US government websites, has been welcomed by lawyers and human rights groups as a precedent for trying hacking suspects in the UK in future. 
 
 The decision delivered by the lord chief justice, Lord Burnett of Maldon, is highly critical of the conditions Love would have endured in US jails, warning of the risk of suicide. 
 
 Lawyers for the 33-year-old, who lives in Suffolk, had argued that Love should be tried in Britain for allegedly hacking into US government websites and that he would be at risk of killing himself if sent to the US. 
 
 There was cheering and applause in court on Monday when Burnett announced his decision. He asked supporters to be quiet, saying: “This is a court, not a theatre.” 
 
 In his judgment, Burnett said: “It would not be oppressive to prosecute Mr Love in England for the offences alleged against him. Far from it. Much of Mr Love’s argument was based on the contention that this is indeed where he should be prosecuted. 
 
 “The CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] must now bend its endeavours to his prosecution, with the assistance to be expected from the authorities in the United States, recognising the gravity of the allegations in this case, and the harm done to the victims.” 
 
 The court heard evidence from psychiatrists who work in the US prison system and questioned the adequacy of safeguarding procedures in US prisons. 
 
 
 
 The CPS, which acts on behalf of the US authorities in the case, said it would read the judgment before deciding whether or not to appeal. It has 14 days to decide whether or not to appeal to the supreme court. 
 
 Emerging from the front of the court afterwards, Love said: “This is not just for myself. I hope this sets a precedent for the future for anyone in the same position that they will be tried here.” 
 
 At a press conference later, he added: “I am greatly relieved that I’m no longer facing the prospect of being locked up in a country I have never visited. This legal struggle has defined my life for the past four years. I’m not looking forward to be being prosecuted but I think there’s a better chance that it will be done justly and fairly in the UK.” 
 
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 Love, who holds joint British and Finnish nationality, has Asperger syndrome and severe depression. His supporters had gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice before the hearing carrying placards declaring: “Trump can’t get no Love”, “Free Love”, “Trial at home” and “Give Love a chance”. 
 
 They feared he would be held in solitary confinement and face a jail sentence of up to 99 years in the US. 
 
 
 
 Welcoming the judgment, Emma Norton, the head of legal casework at Liberty, which intervened in the case, said: “We are delighted that the court has today recognised Lauri’s vulnerability, close family connections to the UK and the potentially catastrophic consequences of extraditing him. This was always a case that could have been prosecuted here and it’s shameful that Lauri and his family have been put through this terrible ordeal.” 
 
 His father, the Rev Alexander Love, had said his son feared for his life because he did not think he could cope with the trauma of being sent to the US. He also praised Theresa May for devising the legal test that prevented Love’s removal. 
 
 
 
 Nick Vamos, a solicitor at the law firm Peters and Peters and a former CPS extradition specialist, said: “This judgment will mean that US and UK prosecutors will need to be very careful in future about how they decide who should prosecute cases of concurrent jurisdiction, and will have to focus far more than previously on a suspect’s connections to the UK.” 
 
 ||||| Lauri Love smiles as he leaves with parents Alexander Love, left, Sirkka-Liisa Love, second left, and girlfriend Sylvia Mann, from The Royal Courts of Justice in London, Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. The ruling... (Associated Press) 
 
 Lauri Love smiles as he leaves with parents Alexander Love, left, Sirkka-Liisa Love, second left, and girlfriend Sylvia Mann, from The Royal Courts of Justice in London, Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. The ruling in Lauri Love's appeal against extradition to the United States, where he faced solitary confinement... (Associated Press) 
 
 LONDON (AP) — An alleged computer hacker from Britain won his appeal Monday against extradition to the United States. 
 
 The High Court in London ruled that Lauri Love's extradition wouldn't be allowed, although judges said it would still be possible to prosecute him in England. 
 
 The decision in Love's favor was greeted with cheers in the courtroom. 
 
 U.S. officials had requested Love's extradition on cyber-hacking charges for allegedly compromising government networks between October 2012 and October 2013 and stealing data. 
 
 Love, 32, has Asperger's syndrome and a depressive illness. His lawyers said it would be "unjust and oppressive" to send him to the U.S. to face trial. 
 
 He said outside the courthouse he hopes his case can help spur discussion about how people with mental health issues are handled by the justice system. 
 
 "This decision is important for the appropriate administration of criminal justice and also for the humanitarian accommodation of people whose brains work differently," he said. 
 
 He criticized prosecutors for suggesting his mental issues were fabricated, saying that only served to stigmatize people with similar problems. 
 
 Love is alleged to have stolen large quantities of data from various American agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Federal Reserve and NASA, and the U.S. Army. 
 
 He has been charged in three U.S. states: New Jersey, New York and Virginia. 
 
 At a hearing in November, his legal team said there was a high risk that Love would kill himself if extradited. 
 
 In their ruling, the High Court judges raised the possibility that Love could be put on trial in England, saying that that wouldn't be considered "oppressive" and that he would be much less of a suicide risk if imprisoned in England because he would be close to his family and loves ones. 
 
 The judges said the Crown Prosecution Service "must now bend its endeavors to his prosecution, with the assistance to be expected from the authorities in the United States, recognizing the gravity of the allegations in this case, and the harm done to the victims." 
 
 Prosecutors haven't indicated whether charges will be brought against Love in Britain. ||||| Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Lauri Love: Alleged hacker hopes extradition case 'sets a precedent' 
 
 Alleged computer hacker Lauri Love has won his High Court appeal against his extradition to the US. 
 
 Mr Love, 33, from Stradishall, Suffolk, was first arrested in October 2013 on suspicion of hacking into FBI, US Central Bank and Nasa systems. 
 
 Appeal judges said extradition would be "oppressive by reason of his physical and mental condition". 
 
 They urged the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to prosecute Mr Love, who has Aspergers syndrome, in England. 
 
 Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett and Mr Justice Ouseley said Mr Love, who also has depression, "did not seek impunity for the acts alleged against him, but contended that he should be tried and, if convicted, sentenced in the United Kingdom". 
 
 Image copyright AFP Image caption Lauri Love attended the appeal hearing with his girlfriend Sylvia Mann 
 
 They said: "We accept that the evidence shows that the fact of extradition would bring on severe depression, and that Mr Love would probably be determined to commit suicide, here or in America." 
 
 Mr Love is alleged to have stolen huge amounts of data from US agencies, including the Federal Reserve, the US army, the defence department, Nasa and the FBI in a spate of online attacks in 2012 and 2013. 
 
 However, his supporters had warned if he was extradited there was a "high risk" he would kill himself. 
 
 The judges urged the Crown Prosecution Service to work with US authorities because of "the gravity of the allegations in this case, and the harm done to the victims". 
 
 They added that "if proven, these are serious offences indeed". 
 
 The United States authorities now have 14 days to lodge a request for an appeal hearing at the UK Supreme Court. 
 
 Lauri Love case timeline 
 
 Image copyright PA 
 
 28 October 2013: Lauri Love is arrested in Suffolk under the Computer Misuse Act and accused of breaching the security of Nasa and FBI, among other US government agencies. He is released on bail. 
 
 27 February 2014: Mr Love is accused of a new charge of hacking into US Federal Reserve computer servers and stealing the personal information of users. 
 
 20 February 2015: Police in the UK say they will not return Mr Love's computer because they cannot decrypt its files. 
 
 16 July 2015: Mr Love is re-arrested by the Met Police executing an extradition warrant on behalf of the US. 
 
 20 August 2015: Mr Love tells the BBC he fears he will not get a fair trial in the US. 
 
 10 May 2016: A bid by the National Crime Agency to force Mr Love to hand over encrypted computer passwords is thrown out by a district judge at Westminster Magistrates' Court. 
 
 6 September 2016: Mr Love tells the BBC he fears dying in jail if he is extradited. 
 
 16 September 2016: A judge at Westminster Magistrates' Court rules Mr Love should be extradited to the US. 
 
 24 October 2016: MPs sign a letter asking President Obama to block Mr Love's extradition. 
 
 14 November 2016: Home Secretary Amber Rudd signs the extradition order. 
 
 29 November 2017: The Court of Appeal begins hearing Mr Love's appeal against extradition. 
 
 Speaking outside the court, Mr Love said he hoped he had set a "precedent so this will not happen to people in the future". 
 
 "I'm hoping that this outcome can contribute to the discussion we are having as a society about how to accommodate people that have neuro-diversity, whose brains are made up in a slightly different way," he said. 
 
 "There is an ongoing problem with people with autism in the justice system - they have actually been debating it in Westminster Hall. 
 
 "I hope in the future to be able to contribute to a slightly better understanding of the stigma associated with depression." 
 
 Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Lauri Love case 'victory for justice' 
 
 Image copyright PA Image caption Supporters warned if Lauri Love was extradited there was a "high risk" he would kill himself 
 
 His father Alexander Love said: "This is a victory for justice. What makes Great Britain great is that we live in a place with wisdom and compassion." 
 
 Authorities in the US have been fighting for Mr Love to face trial on charges of cyber-hacking, which lawyers have said could have meant a sentence of up to 99 years in prison if he was found guilty. 
 
 The decision to block extradition was met with cheers in the packed London courtroom. 
 
 A spokesman for Mr Love's solicitors, Kaim Todner, said it was "important" the British justice system "has taken the stance that we should deal with the matter ourselves, rather than accept the US government's demands". 
 
 Image copyright AFP Image caption The United States authorities now have 14 days to lodge a request for an appeal hearing at the UK Supreme Court 
 
 "It has also been recognised that mental health provisions in US prisons are not adequate to satisfy us that Lauri would not have come to serious harm if he were extradited," the statement added. 
 
 Emma Norton, head of legal casework for campaign group Liberty, said she was "delighted" the court had "recognised Lauri's vulnerability, close family connections to the UK and the potentially catastrophic consequences of extraditing him". 
 
 She added: "This was always a case that could have been prosecuted here and it's shameful that Lauri and his family have been put through this terrible ordeal." 
 
 Mr Love's local MP Matt Hancock said: "It has been a long and hard process for him and his loving family and I'm delighted this verdict has been reached." 
 
 A CPS spokesperson said: "We have received the High Court's judgment on Lauri Love which we will now consider before making any further decisions." ||||| Getty Images / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / Contributor 
 
 The UK's High Court has ruled that accused British hacker Lauri Love should not be extradited to the US to face charges. In a central London court decision, the judges ruled Love should stay in the UK. 
 
 In their full judgement, the lord chief justice Ian Burnett and justice Duncan Ouseley discharged Love's order for extradition. 
 
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 The judges ruled that Love's extradition would be "oppressive" due to his health conditions and it would be likely that he would be kept in solitary confinement in the US prison system. The new decision by the judges overrules Westminster Magistrates' court in late 2016, which said Love should go to the US. 
 
 Love, who lives near Newmarket, is accused of hacking US government bodies and intelligence agencies in 2012 and 2013. He could have faced up to 99 years in prison and a potential fine of up to $9 million (£6.3m) if he was extradited. 
 
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 However, Love lives with Asperger’s Syndrome and has a history of depression, and has argued his medical situation means he shouldn't be extradited to the US to face any potential trial. Love has publicly stated he would take his own life if he was forced to go abroad. His legal team has argued he should face trial in the UK instead of being extradited. 
 
 "The support of his family, in particular, would mean that he would be at far lower a risk of suicide," if he was to stay in the UK, the judges said. Their ruling continued to say that there is "no satisfactory and sufficiently specific evidence" that treatments would be available in the US for Love. 
 
 Despite the ruling, the judges said the UK's Crown Prosecution Service should "bend its endeavours" to prosecute Love over the charges he faces. Any potential prosecution should be done in accordance with US authorities. "If proven, these are serious offences indeed," the ruling says. 
 
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 Police working for the National Crime Agency first arrested Love, in Suffolk, in 2013. He was not charged until 2015 when he was arrested on behalf of the US government and faced with the threat of extradition. 
 
 Upon hearing the decision campaign group Liberty said it is important that a vulnerable person like Love should face trial where a possible criminal offence was committed. "We are delighted that the court has today recognised Lauri’s vulnerability, close family connections to the UK and the potentially catastrophic consequences of extraditing him," Emma Norton the head of legal casework said. 
 
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 "This was always a case that could have been prosecuted here and it's shameful that Lauri and his family have been put through this terrible ordeal.” 
 
 After the ruling, Love spoke outside the court. "I'm very thankful for all of the support that we've had, without which I don't think I would have made it this far." 
 
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 "This decision obviously affects my life but the reason I have gone through this ordeal is not to just to save myself from being kidnapped and locked up for 99 years in a country I have never visited," he said. "But it is to set a precedent whereby this will not happen to other people in the future, if there is suspected criminality then it will be trialled here in the UK. We're hopeful that other people may be able to rely on this verdict to ensure they're more humanely treated by the justice services." 
 
 Here's the background to Love's case. 
 
 What's he charged with? 
 
 It's alleged that Love was involved in #OpLastResort, run by hacking group Anonymous. The operation was a protest against the arrest of renowned programmer Aaron Swartz. (Swartz killed himself while facing charges in 2013). 
 
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 Between 2012 and 2013 it is said Love belong to an Anonymous group accused of hacking into Nasa, the FBI and US Federal Reserve. A 2014 FBI legal filing says Love is allegedly a "sophisticated hacker" who stole sensitive personal information and made it available online. 
 
 The FBI says an SQL injection was used to exploit vulnerabilities in Adobe ColdFusion and backdoors were inserted into the websites that could be exploited in the future. The website of the United States Sentencing Commission was also defaced and hosted a video created by Anonymous. 
 
 Love has neither confirmed or denied any role in Operation Last Resort, as The Guardian reported in September 2017. 
 
 Before this, in October 2013, the National Crime Agency arrested Love after pretending to deliver him a parcel at his parent's home. The body later issued legal proceedings telling Love to hand over passwords to his encrypted laptop but courts ruled this would not be legal and denied the NCA's request. No charges were brought by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). 
 
 The legal arguments 
 
 The court case Love v Government of the United States of America – which is being ruled on today – was held in the Royal Courts of Justice in November last year. The appeal was took to court by Love after he lost a court case for extradition in 2016. 
 
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 In the case three months ago, Love's legal team, led by Edward Fitzgerald QC, argued that Love should not be tried in the US because of his medical conditions. "There’s a very real risk that he would commit suicide," The Guardian reported at the time. "There’s a virtual certainty that his condition would deteriorate." 
 
 It was argued the stress of being removed from his family and routine would exacerbate his conditions. Fitzgerald said the case against Love could be held in the UK and there would be a "real risk of inhuman treatment" against Love if he was sent to the US. 
 
 Judge Nina Tempia, at Westminster Magistrates' court, ruled in September 2016 (court documents) that Love should be extradited to the US. She said: there is a "strong public interest" in the UK upholding its extradition treaties with the US; the offences are serious; "millions of dollars' worth of damage" was caused by the hacks; that US officials say they can manage vulnerable people in their prison system. 
 
 However Tempia's ruling said Love is "at high risk of committing suicide" if extradited and he is "of good character" and is working and studying. 
 
 Ultimately, it was decided that he should be extradited as Tempia was "satisfied his needs will be comprehensively met by the US authorities". Two months later, in November 2016, home secretary Amber Rudd signed an order that Love should be extradited. His appeal was then launched. 
 
 The change in the law 
 
 Love's case has many similarities with that of hacker Gary McKinnon. In October 2012, Theresa May – the then home secretary – blocked the extradition of McKinnon to the US after a 10 year battle. He faced up to 60 years in US jail if convicted of hacking charges. 
 
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 McKinnon, who has Asperger's syndrome and suffered with depression, was allowed to stay in the UK after it was found his condition would "give rise to such a high risk of him ending his life" that it would breach his human rights. 
 
 May also introduced a forum bar. "This will mean that where prosecution is possible in both the UK and in another state, the British courts will be able to bar prosecution overseas if they believe it is in the interests of justice to do so," she said at the time. 
 
 The forum bar exists under section 83A of the Extradition Act 20013. It allows judges to block extradition to the US and other countries if a crime was committed in the UK and if it is in the accused's interests to stand trial in the UK. Essentially, the addition to the law ensured that government ministers would not have to make any final decisions on an extradition case when it comes to human rights grounds. Speaking ahead of Love's trial one of his lawyers, Karen Todner, said if the forum bar is successful "the UK police will have a green light to take more prosecutions here and not bow to the US pressure to extradite".
– A 33-year-old British man who allegedly hacked into the FBI, NASA, and Federal Reserve and did millions of dollars worth of damage as a form of protest in 2012 and 2013 won't be stepping foot on US soil anytime soon. The High Court of London decided against extradition on Monday, with the Guardian reporting that it agreed with the two arguments his lawyers put forth as part of Love's appeal against extradition: That he could be prosecuted in the UK, and that Love, who has Asperger's and depression, could end up killing himself while in US custody. The AP reports the judges felt his suicide risk would be lessened if he was jailed in England, where family and friends would be accessible to him. The BBC and Wired quote Love as saying "the reason I have gone through this ordeal is not to just to save myself from being kidnapped and locked up for 99 years in a country I have never visited," but that he hoped his case set a "precedent so this will not happen to people in the future. ... I'm hoping that this outcome can contribute to the discussion we are having as a society about how to accommodate people that have neuro-diversity, whose brains are made up in a slightly different way." Wired notes that Love would have faced up to 99 years and a fine of up to $9 million were he convicted in US courts. As for prospects of being tried on his own shore, the judges in their ruling "emphasize ... that it would not be oppressive to prosecute Mr. Love in England for the offences alleged against him."