RETIRED Orpington businessman Christopher Tappin described his treatment as a "disgrace" as he arrived at Heathrow police station to be handed over to US marshals and taken to America to face arms dealing charges.

Mr Tappin, who fought a two-year battle against extradition, faces up to 35 years in jail if convicted of conspiring to sell components for Iranian missiles.

The 65-year-old is the latest Briton to fight and lose an extradition battle with the US and his case increases pressure on David Cameron's Government to review the arrangements.

Arriving at the police station, he said: "I look to Mr Cameron to look after my rights and he has failed to do so. I have no rights. Abu Qatada is walking the streets of London today and we cannot extradite him. He has more rights than I have. If I was a terrorist I would not be going to America. I think it's a shame, a disgrace.

"The Conservative Government, while in opposition, promised to reform the law and they failed to do so and they've let me down, they've let you down, they've let the whole country down."

Mr Tappin, who was accompanied to Heathrow by his tearful wife Elaine, said earlier that he was "philosophical" about his chances of ever returning home.

Mr Tappin, who lives in Larch Dene, Farnborough Park, denies attempting to sell batteries for surface-to-air missiles which were to be shipped from the US to Tehran via the Netherlands.

He claims he was the victim of entrapment in a "sting" organised by US government agents. He has said that, for justice to be done, he should be tried by a jury of his peers in the UK, not a jury 3,000 miles away.

As he arrived at Heathrow, Mr Tappin, president of the Kent Golf Union, said he was full of trepidation and was "not sure what's going to happen". But he said he was keen to prove his innocence.

Speaking yesterday to News Shopper, Mr Tappin vowed to clear his name.

He said the problem he had proving his innocence was that none of his witnesses would testify in America.

The American authorities insist on witnesses appearing in person rather than via a video link.

He added: "They have to get a result in America. They can't afford to have anyone extradited that doesn't come out guilty. That destroys their justification for this entrapment."

Mr Tappin will be taken to a federal prison and will not be treated as a low category prisoner as being a foreigner, he is considered a "flight risk".

He will join as many as 400 inmates in a dormitory some of whom are accused of serious criminal offences.

Asked the kind of conditions he can expect to face, Mr Tappin said: "It seems absolutely barbaric and awful. It's supposed to be full of Mexican gangs."

Mr Tappin, who has been caring for his wife, who has chronic Churg-Strauss Syndrome, said he was "not very confident at all" about his case.

Mr Tappin's lawyer Karen Todner said he will be appearing in court on Monday morning, so he will be in custody over the weekend.

She said it was likely the prosecution would apply for an adjournment so the earliest he could be granted bail would probably be Thursday or Friday.

US magistrate John Primomo issued the original arrest warrant for Mr Tappin in El Paso, Texas, on January 26 2007, US court records showed.