British Teenager Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison for Freelance Hacking Services
A British teenager has been sentenced to 20 months in prison after selling his services as a freelance hacker.
Elliot Gunton from Norwich, England, pleaded guilty to hacking, money laundering, and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed in 2016. The 19-year-old hacker-for-hire also admitted to hacking offences against an Australian Instagram account.
Sentencing and Charges
Gunton was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court on Friday, August 16, after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing. He was ordered to pay back more than £400,000 he made in cryptocurrency from supplying online personal data and hacking services.
The court heard that police found cybercrime-enabling software on Gunton’s laptop during a routine search of his home in April 2018. The search was conducted to ensure Gunton was complying with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed for previous offences in 2016.
Illegal Activities
Information found on the laptop revealed that Gunton offered to pass on mobile phone numbers to allow third parties to intercept calls and texts for fraudulent purposes. Police also discovered evidence of Gunton advertising compromised data for sale and offering his services as a hacker-for-hire.
Authorities were able to trace and seize £275,000 worth of cryptocurrency earned illegally by Gunton. Despite trying to erase all traces of his criminal activities online, incriminating conversations were still found by the police.
Sentencing and Orders
Gunton received a 20-month custodial sentence but was immediately released from the court as he had already served his time while on remand. He was ordered to repay £407,359 and was issued a 42-month Community Behaviour Order with strict terms regarding his internet access.
The order prohibits Gunton from deleting his internet search history, providing a false IP address, or using cloud storage without notifying a police officer.
Police Statement
Detective Sergeant Mark Stratford commented on the case, stating, “This was a complex investigation that required the expertise of officers and staff from the Norfolk and Suffolk Cybercrime Unit. Police investigators must stay ahead of technological advancements to effectively combat the rising trend of cybercrime.”