A UK arrest warrant against Julian Assange is still valid, Westminster Magistrates' Court has ruled.

Lawyers for the WikiLeaks founder asked the court to withdraw the warrant, saying it had "lost its purpose".

It was issued in 2012 after he allegedly breached bail conditions by seeking asylum in Ecuador's London embassy, where he has remained.

He had been facing extradition to Sweden to answer sex assault claims but these charges have since been dropped.

In her ruling , senior district judge and chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot said having considered the arguments, she was "not persuaded that the warrant should be withdrawn".

She told the court that not surrendering to bail was a standalone offence under the Bail Act and Mr Assange must explain why he failed to do so.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison.

Read More...