The only friend Jullian Assange had growing up was the computer his mother bought him
The "only friend" Jullian Assange had growing up was the computer his mother bought himNew details of the WikiLeaks founder's early life emerged yesterday with never-before-seen court documents from Assange's 1996 sentencing for 24 computer-hacking-related offences.
He went to at least 12 different schools as he moved from state to state and his computer became his only friend, a court has been told.
Assange was an ostracised teenager and had no contact with his biological father
The documents show he had no contact with his biological father. The documents obtained show in detail for the first time the hardship Assange faced growing up.
The revelations come from a 1996 plea hearing, during which Julian Paul Assange, then of Hawthorn, pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including computer hacking.
The Wikileaks editor in chief was described as a highly intelligent young man who was accepted into a gifted child program, despite never having finished high school.
Prosecutors told the court it was Assange's arrogance and desire to show off that had led to his offending.
He was 20 at the time in 1991 and the court heard that while he was one of three hackers caught, he was the most active and skilled, breaking into the systems ofu00a0 the Australian National University.
At the time of his plea hearing, he'd put his tertiary studies on hold to care for his son, then aged six.
He was convicted and placed on a three-year good behaviour bond and ordered to pay $2100 (Rs 95,500).
Prophetically, during his plea hearing, defence barrister Paul Galbally said Assange hoped to create a website that provided free information while still being financially viable.
While Assange is notoriously tight-lipped about his upbringing, Galbally described him as an ostracised teenager.
"In reality, sir, what has happened is that as a young boy travelling from state to state and school to school and from country town to country town, his mother purchased a computer for him at the age of approximately 13 or 14," Galbally said. "That computer, in effect, became his only friend and his only interaction with the outside world."
He later added, "He would be bullied and his only real saviour in life or his own bedrock in life was this computer."
His mum soon realised he'd become addicted.
At the time of offending, Assange had a son with his estranged wife, who he'd met in a gifted student program at 17.
Assange took his name from his stepfather Brett, an actor and theatre director with whom he had a close relationship.
But when his mum's relationship ended, she took up with a man who was violent, the court was told.
In 2007, Assange's hopes for a free information website became a reality with the launch of Wikileaks. Last year he was named man of the year by France's Le Monde newspaper.
Sued for MillionsDavid Pitchford of Florida has decided that WikiLeaks and its owner Julian Assange have caused him emotional distress and decided to sue them for $150 million (Rs 680 crore). Pitchford said that release of sensitive documents has caused worsening of his "hyper tension", depression and stress.
