A man accused of hacking into US military computers has been granted a judicial review of the decision to extradite him.

Palmers Green resident Gary McKinnon, 42, faces a trial in America and up to 80 years in prison if he is found guilty of hacking into 97 US military computers from his home.

But Lord Justices Maurice Kay and Justice Simon ruled on Friday to grant Mr McKinnon a judicial review of the Home Secretary's decision to extradite him.

Mr McKinnon was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome last August and his lawyers said he would be at risk of suicide if he were extradited.

US officials say Mr McKinnon put national security at risk when he hacked into US Defence Department systems, causing £354,000 of damage, in 2001-2.

Mr McKinnon signed a statement in January offering to plead guilty to a different charge under UK law. The Crown Prosecution Service is still looking at it and is not due to reach a verdict for four weeks.

Gary's mother Janis Sharp is glad her son has finally been granted a review.

She said: "We are overjoyed that the British Courts have shown sense and compassion by allowing our son Gary, a young man with Asperger's Syndrome, this judicial review.

"We have always been outraged by the Home Office decision to have him extradited to stand trial in a foreign land where he could face an out of proportion sentence for what is essentially a crime of eccentricity.

"Perhaps now that Obama is in power in America, our world might become a more compassionate place where consideration, a sense of perspective and individuals' human rights are brought to the fore."