A RETIRED businessman extradited to the US for alleged arms dealing is due to appear in a Texan court today.

Christopher Tappin, 65, of Larch Dene, Farnborough Park, was flown to Houston on Friday and taken to a prison in El Paso.

The BBC reports he is being held in isolation at his own request.

Mr Tappin will make his first court appearance in El Paso today and could face up to 35 years in jail if convicted of selling batteries for Iranian missiles.

Tappin's US lawyer Dan Cogdell said he would "vigorously argue" for his client to be released on bail.

On Saturday his British lawyer Karen Todner tweeted: "C Tappin ok. Is safe and in court on monday."

Before being forced to leave Britain under the controversial UK-US treaty yesterday, Tappin said he had been failed by the Government, branding the decision to extradite him as a "disgrace".