Mums Fury As Sheffield Student’s Extradition is Approved

13 March 2012, 16:32 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A Uni student from Sheffield, accused of breaking copyright infringement laws, will be extradited to the US after the Home Secretary approves it.

Undergraduate 23 year old Richard O'Dwyer, allegedly earned thousands of pounds through advertising on the TVShack website before it was closed down by authorities in the United States.

Just hours before Prime Minister David Cameron arrives in the US for talks with President Barack Obama, his mother Julia warned the US was coming for the young, the old and the ill, “and our Government is paving the way”.

His mum was told Home Secretary Theresa May signed the order authorising her son's extradition on Tuesday afternoon, two months after a district judge said the allegations justified a trial in the US.

Mrs O'Dwyer said: “Today, yet another British citizen is being sold down the river by the British Government. Richard's life - his studies, work opportunities, financial security - is being disrupted, for who knows how long, because the UK Government has not introduced the much needed changes to the extradition law.”

Mrs O'Dwyer went on: “The US is coming for the young (Richard), the old (Chris Tappin) and the ill (Gary McKinnon) and our Government is paving the way.

“If Richard appears to have committed a crime in this country - then try him in this country.”

O'Dwyer faces up to 10 years' jail if convicted of the allegations, which were brought following a crackdown by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.