The NatWest 3 were extradited to the United States today, under the glare of the world’s media. Giles Darby, David Bermingham and Gary Mulgrew have been accused of fraud connected with the collapse of the American energy giant Enron.

The case has been hugely controversial, highlighting the one-sided extradition treaty between Britain and the US. The men’s PR advisers have skilfully harnessed sympathy for their plight through the media. Their PR success could not prevent their extradition. But it has overshadowed the plight of another British businessman, Nigel Potter, who is already incarcerated in an American prison.

Potter is the former chief executive of Wembley plc, the former owner of England’s old national stadium.  He was bizarrely and wrongly accused of trying to bribe the former speaker of the state assembly of Rhode Island. He voluntarily went to America to face the music – and was convicted in highly dubious circumstance. His co-defendant was sent to an open prison – but Potter languishes in a secure prison because he is an ‘illegal alien’. For the first 10 days, he was placed in solitary confinement, and for 14 days was unable to contact anyone – friends, family or lawyers.

Potter’s wife wrote movingly about her husband’s plight in the Daily Telegraph earlier this year. His friends have created a website highlighting his case.