A judge postponed a sentencing hearing for Michael Flynn, a former national security adviser to Donald Trump, after harshly rebuking the retired general for lying to the FBI in connection with the Russia probe being led by special counsel Robert Mueller.

Judge Emmet Sullivan had been expected to sentence Mr Flynn on Tuesday, following a plea agreement between Mr Flynn and Mr Mueller that called for leniency because Mr Flynn had provided “substantial” help to investigators looking into possible connections between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.

But lawyers for Mr Flynn requested a delay after the federal judge castigated their client and suggested he could serve time in prison. Sentencing was postponed to give Mr Flynn time to continue co-operating with Mr Mueller’s probe, and a hearing was scheduled for March to update Judge Sullivan on the case.