Lauri Love waves outside The Royal Courts of Justice in London, Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. The ruling in Lauri Love's appeal against extradition to the United States, where he faced solitary confinement and a potential 99 year prison sentence, was ruled in his favour on Monday Feb. 5 at the Royal Courts of Justice.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) An alleged computer hacker from Britain won his appeal Monday against extradition to the United States.
The High Court in London ruled that Lauri Love's extradition wouldn't be allowed, although judges said it would still be possible to prosecute him in England.
The decision in Love's favor was greeted with cheers in the courtroom.
U.S. officials had requested Love's extradition on cyber-hacking charges for allegedly compromising government networks between October 2012 and October 2013 and stealing data.
Love, 32, has Asperger's syndrome and a depressive illness. His lawyers said it would be "unjust and oppressive" to send him to the U.S. to face trial.
He said outside the courthouse he hopes his case can help spur discussion about how people with mental health issues are handled by the justice system.
"This decision is important for the appropriate administration of criminal justice and also for the humanitarian accommodation of people whose brains work differently," he said.
He criticized prosecutors for suggesting his mental issues were fabricated, saying that only served to stigmatize people with similar problems.
Lauri Love smiles as he leaves with parents Alexander Love, left, Sirkka-Liisa Love, second left, and girlfriend Sylvia Mann, from The Royal Courts of Justice in London, Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. The ruling in Lauri Love's appeal against extradition to the United States, where he faced solitary confinement and a potential 99 year prison sentence, was ruled in his favour on Monday Feb. 5 at the Royal Courts of Justice. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Love is alleged to have stolen large quantities of data from various American agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Federal Reserve and NASA, and the U.S. Army.
He has been charged in three U.S. states: New Jersey, New York and Virginia.
At a hearing in November, his legal team said there was a high risk that Love would kill himself if extradited.
In their ruling, the High Court judges raised the possibility that Love could be put on trial in England, saying that that wouldn't be considered "oppressive" and that he would be much less of a suicide risk if imprisoned in England because he would be close to his family and loves ones.
The judges said the Crown Prosecution Service "must now bend its endeavors to his prosecution, with the assistance to be expected from the authorities in the United States, recognizing the gravity of the allegations in this case, and the harm done to the victims."
Prosecutors haven't indicated whether charges will be brought against Love in Britain.
Lauri Love, who is accused of hacking into U.S. government computers, poses for the media outside The Royal Courts of Justice in London, Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. The ruling in Lauri Love's appeal against extradition to the United States, where he faces solitary confinement and a potential 99 year prison sentence, will be handed down on Monday Feb. 5 at the Royal Courts of Justice. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) 
Lauri Love waves to supporters outside The Royal Courts of Justice in London, Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. The ruling in Lauri Love's appeal against extradition to the United States, where he faces solitary confinement and a potential 99 year prison sentence, will be handed down on Monday Feb. 5 at the Royal Courts of Justice. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) 
Lauri Love and his girlfriend Sylvia Mann pose for the media outside The Royal Courts of Justice in London, Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. The ruling in Lauri Love's appeal against extradition to the United States, where he faces solitary confinement and a potential 99 year prison sentence, will be handed down on Monday Feb. 5 at the Royal Courts of Justice. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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