Extradition to Poland: George Hepburne Scott Leads Defence Team to Article 8 Success
On 5 November 2026, George Hepburne Scott secured the discharge of P.A.G. at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, having led a defence team which fought tirelessly to resist his extradition to Poland.
The defence team instructed four specialist expert witnesses in prison medicine, psychiatry, psychology and neurology. Their evidence was central to establishing the combined impact of P.A.G.’s serious physical and psychiatric conditions.
Following a contested hearing, the District Judge concluded that extradition would disproportionately interfere with P.A.G.’s rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Extradition to Poland and Article 8
The Polish judicial authority sought P.A.G.’s extradition under two conviction warrants relating principally to theft and burglary offences.
There were substantial obstacles to resisting extradition. The District Judge found that P.A.G. was a fugitive, that a significant custodial sentence remained outstanding, and that he had committed further offences in the UK.
Nevertheless, the defence established that the exceptional combination of P.A.G.’s medical circumstances outweighed the substantial public interest in extradition.
Four specialist defence expert witnesses
Under George’s leadership, the defence team instructed four specialist expert witnesses to address P.A.G.’s complex needs:
An expert in prison medicine and continuity of healthcare.
An expert in psychiatry.
An expert in psychology.
An expert in neurology.
The team worked tirelessly to present the medical evidence and demonstrate how P.A.G.’s conditions interacted, particularly in the context of transfer to Poland and the continuation of treatment.
Brain injury, epilepsy and continuity of medication
Following a serious assault, P.A.G. had sustained an acquired brain injury and developed post-traumatic epilepsy.
His condition had become stable through an established medication regime. Maintaining that stability depended upon the uninterrupted administration of anti-epileptic medication.
The District Judge accepted that Poland could generally be expected to provide appropriate medical treatment. However, the information supplied did not provide sufficient reassurance about how continuity of P.A.G.’s specialist medication would be maintained during transfer and the immediate period following it.
The court also accepted psychiatric evidence that P.A.G. suffered from Major Depressive Disorder and that his risk of suicide would materially increase if extradition became imminent.
The combined evidence tipped the balance
The decisive issue was the cumulative effect of P.A.G.’s conditions.
The District Judge did not consider that the psychiatric evidence alone would justify discharge. Its significance lay in the way it compounded the vulnerabilities arising from P.A.G.’s neurological injury and dependence upon uninterrupted epilepsy treatment.
Having assessed those matters together, the District Judge concluded that extradition would be disproportionate under Article 8 and ordered P.A.G.’s discharge under section 21(2) of the Extradition Act 2003.
The separate arguments under sections 20 and 25 were unsuccessful. The discharge rested upon the exceptional combination of physical and psychiatric circumstances established through the defence evidence.
A hard-fought result for P.A.G.
This result followed sustained work by the defence team, led by George, and the instruction of four specialist defence expert witnesses.
The decision illustrates the importance of presenting a complete medical picture, including the interaction between different conditions and the practical risks associated with interruption of treatment.
The judicial authority has a right to seek permission to appeal. The judgment records a seven-day deadline for doing so.
Specialist extradition representation
George Hepburne Scott is the Principal of UK Extradition Lawyer and Head of Extradition at Church Court Chambers. He leads defence teams in complex extradition cases involving medical evidence, human rights and requests from jurisdictions around the world.
For enquiries concerning extradition proceedings, contact enquiries@ukextraditionlawyer.com.
