LONDON, May 10 (UPI) -- A Briton accused of hacking into U.S. military computers and deleting files and logs was recommended for extradition Wednesday by a London court.
Bow Street Magistrate's Court District Judge Nicholas Evans passed the recommendation that Gary McKinnon be sent to the United States for trial to the Britain's home secretary for a final decision.
News reports said McKinnon intends to appeal the judge's ruling.
McKinnon is accused of hacking into U.S. military computer networks over a one-year period. Files and logs on 300 computers at a facility in New Jersey were said to have been wiped out and the entire system rendered inoperable at a crucial time following the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
The Times newspaper said McKinnon has claimed no malicious intent, and said he was merely looking for evidence of UFOs (unidentified flying objects).
The hearing "went as expected, and obviously the appeal process can now start," McKinnon said after the hearing Wednesday. "My intention was never to disrupt security; the fact I logged on there and there were no passwords means there was no security."
Reports said U.S. authorities gave Britain assurances that McKinnon would not be detained at Guantanamo Bay, where terror suspects are held, and would not be tried by a military tribunal.
McKinnon was arrested in 2002 by British authorities for hacking into U.S. military computer networks.
