Julian Assange had been facing extradition to Sweden, where there were allegations of sexual assault against him.

The presiding beak, Judge Deborah Taylor, said in court that the offence was more serious than most.

While a statute of limitations has expired on one case of sexual assault in Sweden, it is possible that the authorities there might seek to extradite Assange again.

Soon he faces a fresh hearing. The USA wants to extradite him on a conspiracy charge for helping make public access to classified material.

Assange claims that he jumped bail because he feared that if he was extradited to Sweden, he'd then be extradited to the USA.