A British man who tried to grab a policeman’s gun in an alleged plot to kill Donald Trump is “terrified” the President-elect will demand a lengthy prison sentence, his mother said.
Michael Sandford, 20, of Dorking, Surrey, will be sentenced in Las Vegas on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to attempting to snatch the weapon during a rally for Mr Trump in June.
Sandford, who has autism, allegedly told officers after he was arrested his plan was to shoot Mr Trump.
His mother Lynne, who has travelled to Las Vegas for the sentencing, said her son feared the President-elect may "choose to make an example of him".
She said: “I'm apprehensive and nervous not knowing what the sentence might be.
"Michael is terrified. He phoned me 15 times through the night with severe anxiety over what the judge is going to say to him and the sentence he will be given.
"Although he signed a plea agreement, which should mean he receives between 18 and 24 months, the judge is able to overrule that.
"Michael is afraid that because Donald Trump is now president-elect, it may have some bearing on the judge's sentencing."
Mrs Sandford has issued a plea to Theresa May and Barack Obama for her son to return to the UK to receive psychiatric care and revealed her son was on “suicide watch”.
She said: “If there is anything they can do to help Michael before Donald Trump takes office, I urge them to do so.
"Michael is remorseful over what he did. He fears Donald Trump may intervene and choose to make an example of him.
"Michael has been on suicide watch for a considerable amount of time. His weight fell below 8st, which is very low for his height."
Mrs Sandford has travelled to Las Vegas with her mother Christine and four-year-old daughter Jessica. Sandford's father Paul Davey is also expected to attend.
The family has launched a crowd-funding campaign to raise £10,000 to pay legal costs in their fight to bring Sandford back to the UK to serve his sentence.
Donations can be made at www.crowdjustice.org/michael-sandford.
