UK man jailed for Facebook hack

12-month sentence should be a deterrent

A man from West Sussex has been sent to jail for 12 months after hacking into a private Facebook account.

Gareth Crosskey, 21, had pleaded guilty to offences under the Computer Misuse Act at a hearing earlier this year.

On 12 January 2011, Crosskey hacked into an individual's Facebook account, also gaining unauthorised access to their private email facility.

The breach was originally reported to the FBI, who traced the source of the breach to the UK.

The Metropolitan Police Service's Police Central e-Crime Unit then took over the investigation and arrested Crosskey on 14 July 2011. He was charged on 29 February 2012.

"[Yesterday's] result should act as a deterrent to any individuals thinking of participating in this type of criminal activity. By taking swift action, PCeU officers were able to quickly detain Crosskey, thereby preventing further disruption to the victim," the police said.

Join the newsletter!

Or

Sign up to gain exclusive access to email subscriptions, event invitations, competitions, giveaways, and much more.

Membership is free, and your security and privacy remain protected. View our privacy policy before signing up.

Error: Please check your email address.

More about FacebookFBIWest

Show Comments
[]