Briton fails in bid to halt extradition

A retired businessman has vowed to fight on to end his "nightmare" after failing in a High Court bid to halt his extradition to the US on charges of conspiring to sell batteries for Iranian missiles.

Christopher Tappin's lawyers condemned the "one-sided" UK-US extradition treaty and will try to block his removal in the Supreme Court.

Mr Tappin, 64, from Orpington, Kent, denies unlawfully attempting to export batteries for Hawk air defence missiles and says he was the victim of entrapment in a "sting" organised by US government agents.

Yesterday Lord Justice Hooper and Mr Justice Cranston rejected his challenge to a decision by City of Westminster magistrates that extradition could go ahead.

Mr Tappin, a former director of Brooklands International Freight Services, has said he believed he was exporting batteries for the car industry in Holland. He said: "I fear for the impact on my family and close friends and will do what I can to bring an end to this nightmare."

His solicitor, Karen Todner, said: "We urge the Government to take urgent action to review this treaty and stop these horrendous extraditions."