Julian Assange turned free as he formally admits spying charge during US plea deal

After pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information during the three-hour hearing, the Wikileaks founder was sentenced to time served, 62 months - all of which he has already spent in a British prison.

For many years, the US tried to prosecute Assange for the publication of thousands of classified and diplomatic documents on the Afghanistan and Iraq wars - which they said endangered lives.

For many years, the US tried to prosecute Assange for the publication of thousands of classified and diplomatic documents on the Afghanistan and Iraq wars - which they said endangered lives.

Assange and his lawyers have been fighting the extradition for over a decade. He had long claimed that the case against him was politically motivated.

Speaking to the court in Saipan, he said: "Working as a journalist I encouraged my source to provide information that was said to be classified in order to publish that information," he told the court.

"I believed the First Amendment protected that activity but I accept that it was ... a violation of the espionage statute."

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Judge Ramona V. Manglona accepted his guilty plea, noting that the US government indicated there was no personal victim from Assange's actions.

She wished an "early happy birthday" to Assange, who turns 53 next week.

"I hope you will start your new life in a positive manner," she said.

The WikiLeaks founder is expected to land in Canberra at 7.30pm (local time), where he will be reunited with his wife Stella, and their children. He married Stella in 2022 at Belmarsh prison.

"I can’t stop crying," his wife wrote on social media, sharing a video of her husband walking from the court.

Anthony Albanese, the Australian Prime Minister, said "this is what standing up for Australians looks like".

"Regardless of your views about his activities – and they will be varied – Assange’s case has dragged on for too long," Albanese said.

As a condition of his plea, he will be required to destroy information that was provided to WikiLeaks.

He is also not allowed to re-enter the US, the Department of Justice has said.