Julian Assange's sexual behaviour was "disrespectful, discourteous and pushing the boundaries" - but not rape, the Wikileaks founder's legal team insists, in a change of strategy they hope will save him from extradition to Sweden.

Mr Assange and his new lawyers arrived at London's Royal Courts of Justice to appeal against the decision to extradite him to Sweden, where he is alleged to have raped one woman and molested another last August.

Ben Emmerson QC, acting for Mr Assange, described how his sexual encounters had been consensual.

In previous hearings, Mr Assange's legal teams have focused on concerns that if their client is extradited to Sweden, he may then be extradited to the US and face charges over his release of confidential documents, which he claims could see him face the death penalty.

Mr Emmerson told Lord Justice Thomas and Mr Justice Ousely that he was not challenging the fact that the two women "found Mr Assange's sexual behaviour in these encounters disreputable, discourteous, disturbing or even pushing towards the boundaries of what they were comfortable with".

But the sexual activities that occurred had taken place with consent and, unlike in Sweden, could not be criminalised in the English jurisdiction, said Mr Emmerson.

Today the court will hear from barristers acting for the Swedish Prosecution Authority, after which the judges will consider their verdict.