Dad of Briton accused of trying to shoot Donald Trump contacted US embassy before arrest

THE CONCERNED father of a jobless Briton who allegedly tried to assassinate Donald Trump contacted the US embassy before the attempted atack because he was worried about his son's behaviour.

Surrey-born Michael Sandford – who faces up to 10 years behind bars if found guilty – was arrested in Las Vegas on Saturday.

He is charged with attempting to carry out an act of violence on Mr Trump in a restricted area.

The 20-year-old is accused of trying to steal a police officer’s gun in order to kill the Republican presidential nominee at a casino – but his father has maintained that the events were “totally out of character”.

Worried dad Paul Davey added that he and Sandford’s mother Lynne Sandford, from whom he is separated, had contacted the US embassy in London in order to express concern for his son, who was said to be “living off the radar” in America.

But officials are said to have told the couple they were unable to do anything to help due to their son being over 18.

Davey, 50, said yesterday: “We’re worried about what has happened to him since he’s been in America.

“Whether he’s been blackmailed or put up to it, that’s the only thing we can think of.”

Sandford – who was described as an anorexic obsessive compulsive sufferer in a court statement from his mother – told US police he had been planning his botched attack on Trump for a year.

He had been in the US illegally for 18 months and is accused of trying to grab the gun as he asked for Mr Trump’s autograph – after allegedly driving over 2,000 miles from California to Las Vegas in order to visit the rally.

The Robot Wars-obsessed Asperger’s syndrome sufferer allegedly told secret service agents that he expected to die in the assassination bid.

He was refused bail at a hearing on Sunday and will appear in court again on July 5.