Businessman faces formal extradition

A British businessman who tried to surrender voluntarily to face fraud charges in the US will be formally extradited today.

Jeremy Crook, the former European vice-president of software firm Peregrine Systems, had been told he would be extradited to America on Friday.

However, the date for his flight to San Diego via Chicago has been brought forward to today because it is more convenient for US marshals, a spokeswoman said.

She said: “Jerry heard yesterday that it was more convenient for the US marshals to take him to the US tomorrow rather than Friday, so he’ll be at Heathrow Terminal Three tomorrow morning at 10am for a United Airlines flight to Chicago, then onwards to San Diego, departing 12.55pm.”

US marshals will meet Mr Crook at check-in along with representatives from the UK Extradition Squad and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the spokeswoman added. It will be up to the marshals to decide if he should be shackled.