The WikiLeaks founder breached a “list of rules of behaviour” which brought Ecuador’s president, Lenin Moreno, to withdraw the political asylum offered to Mr Assange by his predecessor in 2012. Mr Moreno said in an interview Mr Assange had “bothered and threatened guards and hit and mistreated employees of the embassy”. Australian-born Mr Assange has been accused by Ecuador’s president of penetrating “the security apparatus of the mission, put up a security camera and electronic apparatus which was not authorised, brought in sealed bags and boxes which were not authorised and maintained improper hygienic conduct which went on constantly during his stay”. 

Mr Moreno explained he got fed up with Mr Assange when, two days before the arrest, “Wikileaks threatened Ecuador in a press conference and accused staff in the embassy of being spies and agents of the US”.

Mr Assange has also been accused of staging “dirty protests” in which he would stuff his underpants down the toilet and leave unwashed dishes in the kitchen, The Sun wrote.

And in a surreal video obtained by Spanish newspaper El Pais, the 47-year-old can be seen attempting to use a skateboard wearing nothing but shorts and a vest in one of the rooms of the diplomatic building in Knightsbridge, central London. 

Jennifer Robinson, Mr Assange’s lawyer, rejected claims Mr Assange would behave in a similar way, telling Sky News: “The first thing to say is Ecuador has been making some outrageous allegations.

“It’s a difficult situation.

“Ecuador has made these allegations to justify the unlawful and extraordinary act of letting police come inside an embassy.”

The WikiLeaks founder was granted political asylum in 2012 by Rafael Correa, the then president of Ecuador.

But the country withdrew its diplomatic protection on Wednesday, and let the Metropolitan Police enter its premises on Thursday to arrest Mr Assange. 

The WikiLeaks founder was found guilty of breaching his bail in 2012 by judges at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court just a few hours after his arrest.

On the same day, Swedish prosecutors received a formal request to reopen a rape investigation closed in 2017 involving Mr Assange.

The request was sent from the legal counsel representing the alleged victim.

Mr Assange was also charged on the same day by the US Justice Department with conspiracy to commit computer intrusion.

The WikiLeaks founder denies the rape allegation and said the decision of publishing classified US documents was taken in the public interest. 

The WikiLeaks founder’s father, John Shipton, has since appealed to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, asking him to intervene and bring his son back to his homeland.

Mr Shipton said Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) “should in a nuanced way do something”.

He added: “It can be resolved simply to the satisfaction of all. There has been some talk in a meeting between a senator and a senior DFAT official to extradite Julian to Australia.”

The concerned father also voiced his worries for Mr Assange’s health, saying: “I saw him, the way they dragged him down the steps, the coppers — he didn’t look good.

“I’m 74 and I look better than him and he’s 47. It’s such a shock.”     

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