Judge Howard Riddle said allegations of rape and sexual molestation by two women against Mr Assange are extraditable offences and a Swedish warrant was properly issued.

Lawyers for the Australian citizen have a week to appeal against the ruling, which was made at the high-security Belmarsh Magistrates’ Court in southeast London.

Judge Riddle said there is “simply no reason to believe there has been a mistake” in issuing the warrant.