THE Brookmans Park mother of a man who hacked into NASA’s computer network searching for evidence of UFOs has penned a book about her battle.

This week Janis Sharp spoke to the Welwyn Hatfield Times about the project, which relived a controversial extradition battle that nearly saw her son, Gary McKinnon, sent to the USA to be put on trial.

The book, Saving Gary McKinnon: A Mother’s Story, is out next week, and reveals intricate details of the decade-long fight to keep Mr McKinnon in the UK.

US prosecutors wanted to extradite him after he hacked into computer systems at NASA and the Pentagon.

Asked what sparked her decision to pen the 352-page memoir, Janis told the WHT: “During my fight for Gary a lot of people suggested I write a book, but it was the last thing I was thinking about and I wasn’t interested.

“In fact I didn’t even keep a diary, as all I could think about was fighting to keep Gary safe in the UK.”

She added: “I hoped that Gary would write a book as I thought it might help him by giving him an outlet to express his feelings about all that he had gone through.

“But Gary is still in recovery mode and needs time before he could face reliving the hell he went through.”

“Basically at the age of 64 years, my husband and I are starting all over again.”

For the full interview, and a review of the book, pick up a copy of the Welwyn Hatfield Times, on sale now