Lawyer 'utterly delighted' at Assange's bail

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s lawyer Mark Stephens said today they were “utterly delighted” to win bail, adding that his client was the victim of a “continued vendetta”.

Mr Stephens emerged victorious from a tense two-hour bail hearing at London’s High Court where his legal team argued successfully to free the 39-year-old.

The Australian-born whistleblower is wanted in Sweden for alleged sex offences.

Mr Stephens said: “As you can imagine, we are utterly delighted with the result here today.

“We think it was an unnecessary appeal ... and it really evidences part of a continuing vendetta on the part of the Swedes against Julian Assange.

“We obtained costs today on behalf of Mr Assange but in truth the Swedes should pay those funds and not our hard-pressed Crown Prosecution Service.”