A British man tried to assassinate Donald Trump after trying to steal a police officer’s gun while at a Presidential rally in Las Vegas, it emerged tonight.

Michael Steven Sandford allegedly attempted to kill the presumptive Republican presidential nominee on Saturday and has been now been charged with an act of violence on restricted grounds after being thwarted by officers.

The 20-year-old told the Secret Service he had been “planning to kill Trump for about a year but decided to act on this occasion because he finally felt confident about trying it.”

Police filed a complaint in the Nevada US District Court on Monday signed by Special Agent Joseph Hall.

He wrote how Sandford had driven from California in order to kill Trump and had visited a gun range in Las Vegas the day before to learn how to shoot.

On the day of the rally at the Treasure Island Casino the would-be killer is alleged to have approached a police officer on the pretence he wanted an autograph from Trump.

The report detailed how Sanford then tried grabbing the handle of the cop’s handgun in an attempt to remove it.

“At the rally, uniformed Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officer Ameel Jacob was stationed at the rally to assist providing security,” said the report.

“An individual later identified as Sandford approached Officer Jacob, stating that he was seeing an autograph from Trump.

“Sandford then attempted to seize the sidearm Officer Jacob by grabbing the holster and handler of the firearm with both hands in an attempt to remove the firearm from the holster.

“Sandford was arrested and on his person was located a United Kingdom Driving Licence.”

 

The report then details how Sandford said he had been in the States approximately 18 months and had lived in Hoboken, New Jersey before moving to the “Ontario/San Bernardino” area of California.

He told the agent he had driven across the America in his black 2007 BMW 328i.

The report gave details of how the Brit had visited the Battlefield Vegas Gun range to learn how to use a gun.

“Sandford said he went to the Battlefield Vegas Gun range in Las Vegas on June 17, 2016, to learn how to shoot a gun,” it stated.

“Sandford claimed that this was his first time he had ever fired a gun.

“According to Sandford he fired 20 rounds from a 9mm Glock pistol for the purpose of learning how to use it.”

The man was later identified by staff at the gun range as having been there the day before to practice.

They recognised him by his UK driving licence which was shown to them.

 

The report said Sandford had “targeted Officer Jacobs because he believed he saw the officer’s holster in an unlocked postion.

“Sandford reason it would be the easiest way to acquire a gun to shoot Trump.”

The Brit told the Secret Service “if he were on the street tomorrow, he would try this again”.

When asked what he would have done had he not made an attempt on Trump’s life he said he had bought ticket a for Trump rally in Phoenix, Arizona, where he would try again.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are providing assistance following an arrest of a British national in Las Vegas.”

Broadcast Report by Christopher Bucktin