The Wikileaks founder has been sentenced at Southwark crown court for breaching bail
Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks has been sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for breaching bail.
He was found guilty after being arrested at the Ecuadorian embassy.
Judge Deborah Taylor said at an earlier hearing that Assange “merits the maximum sentence” for skipping bail and that a written apology was the first recognition of his actions.
#Assange Judge: I reject argument you were living in prison conditions. Difficult to imagine more serious example of this offence. Sentence 50 weeks.
— Martin Brunt (@skymartinbrunt) May 1, 2019
The 47-year-old said he found himself “struggling with terrifying circumstances” and his supporters shouted “shame on you” as the sentence was handed down.
The Wikileaks founder sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in 2012 in order to avoid extradition, but the country revoked his asylum status. Swedish authorities wanted to question him over rape and sexual assault allegations.
Assange also now faces a legal battle against extradition to the US where he has been charged with taking part in a conspiracy to hack the Pentagon.
