WikiLeaks' Julian Assange sentenced to 50 weeks' jail over bail breach

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been sentenced to 50 weeks' jail for absconding while on bail, when he fled to the Ecuadorian embassy in London in 2012.

Assange was granted asylum by Ecuador after the UK Supreme Court upheld a ruling that he should be extradited to Sweden over a sexual assault case that has since been dropped. He has denied the allegation.

He claimed he was seeking political asylum because Sweden's international arrest warrant would see him eventually extradited to the United States.

Assange's lawyer Mark Summers told the courtroom packed with journalists and WikiLeaks supporters that his client sought refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy because "he was living with overwhelming fear of being rendered to the US".

He said Assange had a "well-founded" fear that he would be mistreated and possibly sent to the US detention camp for terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay.

Mr Summers read a letter from Assange apologising for his behaviour in 2012 and saying, "I did what I thought was best".

"I found myself struggling with terrifying circumstances," the letter said.

The white-haired WikiLeaks founder stood impassively with his hands clasped while his 50-week sentence was read.

The 47-year-old's supporters in the public gallery chanted "shame on you" at the judge as he was led away.

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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-01/julian-assange-sentenced-in-london-over-bail-breach-wikileaks/11064356