Janis Sharp with son Gary McKinnon

The mother of Gary McKinnon, who is wanted by the US on charges of computer hacking, has said she is “confident” that the new coalition Government will block her autistic son’s extradition to the States.

Janis Sharp, from Brookmans Park, said she was expecting an announcement this week on whether the new Conservative – Liberal Democrat administration would reverse the decision by former Home Secretary Alan Johnson not to block the extradition.

Both Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy PM Nick Clegg publicly criticised the Labour Government for allowing Mr McKinnon’s extradition to go ahead, and promised to overturn the ruling if they were in power.

Prosecutors in America allege that Mr McKinnon, 44, caused nearly £500,000 worth of damage to military computers in 2001 and 2002.

Mr McKinnon, who has Asperger’s, admits hacking but maintains he was looking for evidence of alien life.

A judicial review of his case was due to start next week, but Ms Sharp said that was unlikely to happen now, because her son’s solicitors are expecting the extradition to be stopped.

“I’m confident, but I’m more scared then I’ve ever been, because it’s so close to the end,” said Ms Sharp.

“It’s been a very emotional time, especially for Gary.”

For more on this story, see this week’s Welwyn Hatfield Times, out tomorrow.