A computer hacker who ruined a man’s internet firm ‘for a game’ and was caught with thousands of stolen bank account details has been spared jail – so he can carry on studying for his degree in law.
Sussex University student Zachary Woodham, 19, bragged online about how easy it was to take control of servers.
He forced one victim to shut down his website hosting firm, accompanying his cyber-attacks with a series of silent telephone calls, Southwark Crown Court heard.
Woodham also boasted to his friend and fellow hacker Charles Tobenhouse, 18, that he had redirected visitors to a church website to web pages depicting gay orgies.
When he was arrested at his parents’ home, he was found to be in possession of thousands of stolen bank account details.
Woodham was given a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with 240 hours of unpaid work after he admitted hacking offences.
Read more in The Daily Mail.
Let’s see…. he’s caught with thousands of bank details and has harmed someone’s business, and he does no jail time because he’s a law student with a presumably bright future? The court has an expansive view of youthful indiscretion, it seems.
I very much doubt that he’ll have a bright future in law. He’ll have to declare any previous convictions to either the Law Society or Bar Council (offences never become ‘spent’ for this purpose) and he’ll have an uphill struggle persuading either body that he’s a fit person to be admitted.
Dan Goodin of The Register has more details on the case today. After reading his coverage, the judge’s decision seems totally outrageous. See Dan’s coverage at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/05/16/hacker_duo_sentenced/