Hacker suspected of more offences

A MEMBER of hacking group Anonymous who broke into the website of Britain’s biggest abortion provider may also have launched cyber attacks on the CIA, FBI and Houses of Parliament, a court heard.

James Jeffery, 27, targeted the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) because he “disagreed” with the decisions of two women he knew to terminate their pregnancies.

The “zealot” went on to steal around 10,000 database records containing personal details of vulnerable women which he intended to publish.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Described as an “able” hacker, who boasted of his feat on Twitter, Jeffery also identified “vulnerabilities” on websites for major international organisations.

Police are investigating alleged hacking offences involving websites for the FBI, CIA, West Midlands Police, the Houses of Parliament, the US navy, Arizona police and Spanish police, London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court was told.

The defendant, who admitted two offences under the Computer Misuse Act, showed no emotion as prosecutors outlined the case against him.

Jeffery was arrested after officers traced the BPAS breach to his address.

Police swooped on his home early on Thursday to find his computer “in the process of being wiped clean”. They seized items including an iPad, iPhone, three laptops, a hard drive and note book.

Jeffery, of Wednesbury, West Midlands confessed to his crimes when interviewed by police. He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced later.