Briton strikes plea deal after grabbing policeman’s gun to shoot Trump

A Briton accused of trying to shoot Donald Trump at a Las Vegas rally has pleaded guilty to lesser charges. Michael Sandford appeared in court charged with trying to grab a policeman’s gun to attack the Republican presidential candidate in June. But he has pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and disrupting government business after an apparent plea deal. Admitting the charges means the 20-year-old, from Dorking, Surrey, is expected to receive about two years in a US prison and be deported.

I tried to take a gun from a policeman to shoot someone with, and I’m pleading guilty

Michael Sandford

Sandford, who was arrested on 18 June after reaching for the gun in a 1,500-seat venue, could have faced up to 20 years in jail if he had been convicted of the more serious charges. His family has said he suffers from a number of mental health issues including autism, anxiety, depression and anorexia and would not have understood the consequences of his actions. His mother, Lynne, said: “I was very relieved that he signed it. It was a bit of a battle because he is quite headstrong. But we all laid the options out there for him on the table and, of course, it is a gamble.”

He (Michael) doesn’t remember what happened, he said it’s just a blur and he is so glad nobody got hurt

Lynne Sandford

World