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| Christopher Tappin condemns treatment as US extradition under way | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Briton being extradited to the US for allegedly selling batteries for Iranian missiles described his treatment as "a disgrace" as he arrived at Heathrow. | |
| Retired businessman Christopher Tappin had said he was leaving the UK feeling he had fewer rights than a terrorist. | |
| Mr Tappin, 65, from London, had been ordered to Heathrow Airport to be escorted by US marshals to Texas. | |
| British judges say the extradition is lawful and the European Court of Human Rights has refused to intervene. | British judges say the extradition is lawful and the European Court of Human Rights has refused to intervene. |
| Mr Tappin, of Orpington, south-east London, has fought against extradition through the British courts after being charged in the US with conspiring to export batteries which could be used in Hawk air defence missiles. | Mr Tappin, of Orpington, south-east London, has fought against extradition through the British courts after being charged in the US with conspiring to export batteries which could be used in Hawk air defence missiles. |
| He faces a trial in El Paso and a possible 35-year jail sentence - but says that he is the victim of entrapment. | |
| Last week the European Court of Human Rights refused to intervene in his case. Mr Tappin, president of the Kent Golf Society, was ordered to present himself to Heathrow Airport to be taken to the US for trial. | |
| He was seen departing from his house around 08:00 GMT on Friday and later arrived at Heathrow police station accompanied by his wife Elaine. | |
| Mr Tappin told reporters it was "a shame, a disgrace" that he was being extradited. | |
| Speaking on Wednesday, Prime Minister David Cameron said that Mr Tappin's case had been thoroughly considered by the Home Secretary Theresa May - but that she was also looking carefully at the full findings of last year's extradition review. | |
| Mr Tappin said: "I look to Mr Cameron to look after my rights and he has failed to do so," he said. | |
| "The Conservative government, while in opposition, promised to reform the law and they failed to do so and they've let me down, they've let you down, they've let the whole country down." | |
| British judges say the US has lawfully sought Mr Tappin's extradition under the terms of treaty between the two countries. But critics say the law is stacked against British citizens. | British judges say the US has lawfully sought Mr Tappin's extradition under the terms of treaty between the two countries. But critics say the law is stacked against British citizens. |
| In Mr Tappin's case, a key legal issue is whether he, as a British importer, should be tried in the UK given he was running his business in the country. The second issue is a complaint of entrapment - something the Court of Appeal dismissed. | In Mr Tappin's case, a key legal issue is whether he, as a British importer, should be tried in the UK given he was running his business in the country. The second issue is a complaint of entrapment - something the Court of Appeal dismissed. |
| The biggest complaint is that British judges cannot properly test the case behind an extradition request. A massive review of extradition led by a senior judge said critics misunderstand how the legal safeguards work. | The biggest complaint is that British judges cannot properly test the case behind an extradition request. A massive review of extradition led by a senior judge said critics misunderstand how the legal safeguards work. |
| But the symbolism of a retired businessman swapping a golf club blazer for prison overalls won't silence those who want the government to rethink the deal with America. | But the symbolism of a retired businessman swapping a golf club blazer for prison overalls won't silence those who want the government to rethink the deal with America. |
| Speaking to the BBC as he prepared for extradition, Mr Tappin attacked the UK-US Extradition Treaty, saying that the arrangements had denied him a fair hearing. | Speaking to the BBC as he prepared for extradition, Mr Tappin attacked the UK-US Extradition Treaty, saying that the arrangements had denied him a fair hearing. |
| "I feel that I have been treated very unfairly by the whole system. I thought that the British justice system is there to protect me and I found that my rights have been taken away from me. I have no rights whatsoever." | "I feel that I have been treated very unfairly by the whole system. I thought that the British justice system is there to protect me and I found that my rights have been taken away from me. I have no rights whatsoever." |
| And comparing his case to that of preacher Abu Qatada, whose deportation from the UK was recently blocked, Mr Tappin said: "I feel that I don't have any human rights because I'm not a terrorist. If I was a terrorist, I would have more rights. I feel that I have been completely let down." | And comparing his case to that of preacher Abu Qatada, whose deportation from the UK was recently blocked, Mr Tappin said: "I feel that I don't have any human rights because I'm not a terrorist. If I was a terrorist, I would have more rights. I feel that I have been completely let down." |
| He said he was "philosophical" about his chances of returning home. | |
| "I am 65 years old now. If I was to serve 35 years then I would be 100 by the time I came back. | |
| "There aren't many people who reach 100 so I have to be philosophical about these things, that I may never come home to my own country again." | |
| During his legal battle, Mr Tappin denied the allegations and said he was the victim of unlawful conduct by US law enforcement agents. In January, the Court of Appeal dismissed that argument, giving the green light to the extradition. | During his legal battle, Mr Tappin denied the allegations and said he was the victim of unlawful conduct by US law enforcement agents. In January, the Court of Appeal dismissed that argument, giving the green light to the extradition. |
| Home Secretary Theresa May signed an order authorising Mr Tappin's extradition in April 2011. The extradition request has also been approved by the High Court and Court of Appeal. | |
| 'Years of talk' | |
| Critics of the US-UK Extradition Treaty say that it makes the extradition of British nationals easier because the US has to produce less evidence to support their case. | Critics of the US-UK Extradition Treaty say that it makes the extradition of British nationals easier because the US has to produce less evidence to support their case. |
| But last year, a massive review of extradition by a senior judge found that the treaty was fair to British citizens. | But last year, a massive review of extradition by a senior judge found that the treaty was fair to British citizens. |
| Ahead of Mr Tappin's extradition, Fair Trials International said nothing had been done about extradition reform after "years of talk". | |
| "It is high time the government brings forward concrete proposals to build much-needed safeguards into our laws," chief executive Jago Russell said. | |
| Isabella Sankey, of civil rights group Liberty, said: "No British court has ever been allowed to examine any evidence against Christopher Tappin or consider whether he should be tried here. | |
| "Even if a US jury eventually finds him not guilty, he'll still spend years in a Texan jail awaiting trial - thousands of miles from his home and sick wife. | |
| "No-one is immune from such unfair treatment and it's high time the government put some common sense and compassion back into our extradition laws." |