A COMPUTER hacker who launched a cyber attack which cost Moonpig.com £150,000 has dodged jail.

Anthony Luke Fulton, of Cleator Moor, forced the personalised greetings card company to shut down its operations in three different continents.

He targeted the firm over four days in July last year and accessed around 18,000 records.

Fulton, 22, of Mill Hill, appeared to be sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court today. 

He had previously pleaded guilty to three hacking offences at a magistrates' court hearing. The charges stated he caused a computer to perform a function with intent to enable or secure unauthorised access.

Fulton was given a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay both a £100 victim surcharge and £100 in compensation to Moonpig.com.

Judge Barbara Forrester, presiding, said: "I am limited in that I can't order any more (compensation) much as I would like to."

She also placed restrictions on Fulton's use of technology. 

He cannot delete the internet history of any piece of computer equipment he uses, cannot access 'incognito' computer programs - which allow users to browse without leaving a digital footprint - and must make any equipment he uses available to the police on request.


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