A British man has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison after attempting to grab a police officer's gun at a Donald Trump rally in Las Vegas with the intent to kill the then-presidential candidate.
Michael Sandford, 20, from Dorking, Surrey, pleaded guilty in September to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and disrupting an official function. He faced up to 10 years in prison over the alleged assassination plot.
The court heard that Sandford, who was homeless and living illegally in the US after overstaying his visa, told Secret Service agents he had driven from California to Nevada with the goal of shooting Mr Trump. He had been planning the attack for around a year and had visited a gun range the day before to practise firing a 9mm Glock pistol.
Sandford broke down in tears as he apologised for his actions, telling the court he was sorry for wasting time and costing taxpayers money. His defence team said he suffers from autism, seizures, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Judge James Mahan told Sandford: 'I don't think you harboured malice in your heart,' and described the incident as 'a crazy stunt.' He added: 'You have a medical problem. It's nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about.'
Sandford could be eligible for release in four months, after which he will be deported to the UK. His mother, Lynne Sandford, had appealed for leniency, saying her son needed treatment and family support.
