‘Cybercrook’ teen avoids going to jail
A TEENAGE computer genius who helped one of the world’s major online criminal gangs launch cyber attacks that hit millions, has avoided jail.
Jack Chappell, from Heaton Moor, helped in targeting multinational organisations such as Netflix, Nat West, Amazon and even the British government, when he was 16 and 17. An expert said he was one of the most talented people with a computer he had ever seen.
Chappell was an ‘important member’ of a group that launched thousands of attacks which flooded companies’ websites with excessive internet traffic to make them crash or run slowly affecting millions of users.
Chappell, now 19, escaped jail at a hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court. He was given 16 months in a young offenders institution, suspended for two years.
ATEENAGE computer genius who helped one of the world’s major online criminal gangs launch cyber attacks that affected millions has avoided jail.
Jack Chappell, from Heaton Moor, helped in targeting multinational organisations such as Netflix, Nat West, Amazon and even the British government, when he was 16 and 17. An expert said he was one of the most talented people with a computer he had ever seen.
Chappell was an ‘important member’ of a group which launched thousands of DDoS attacks. It involved flooding companies’ websites with excessive internet traffic to make the sites crash or run slowly - affecting millions of users.
Chappell, now 19, escaped jail following a hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court. He was given 16 months in a young offenders institution, suspended for two years.
Defending, Stuart Kaufman compared Chappell to Dustin Hoffman’s card counting genius in the film Rainman, who was also autistic. He said: “He is in some ways as much of a victim, he has been exploited and used. He is not malicious, he is mischievous.”
Chappell launched 2,000 of the attacks himself on behalf of the organisation, which was called VDoS.
He helped launder proceeds of around £600,000, but was only paid £1,500.
‘Customers’ would pay VDoS to target companies and Chappell would run a help desk for them if they had problems. Other members of the gang included an American who was investigated by the FBI and two Israelis who have been arrested in their country.
It was said an expert described Chappell, of Curtis Road, as one of the most talented people with a computer he had ever seen.
Other victims included Virgin Media, the BBC, Vodafone, the National Crime Agency and O2.
Prosecuting, Kevin Barry said: “It was a structured commercial enterprise, the way the attacks were delivered was very effective.
“They were more persistent and aggressive than other DDoS attacks. They were beyond what they had seen before. He [Chappell] brought considerable IT skills to the table.
“It can’t be overstated that VDoS was one of the biggest players globally and the defendant’s role was important.”
The court heard Chappell had also launched 21 DDoS attacks on his own against the government’s educational support network and Manchester College, where he was a student.
It was said his attack on the government organisation took 180 days to fully fix and £5m was spent to protect against future attacks.
Chappell was arrested at home in April 2016 following an investigation that traced his IP address.
Speaking outside the court through lawyer Terry Walsh, Chappell said: “I’d like to take the chance to contribute to society in a positive way, using my skills and talents to the benefit of others. I understand what I was doing was wrong and I deeply regret my actions. I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to all those affected.”
Chappell must also undertake 20 days rehabilitation activity. He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to a string of cyber crimes and being concerned in a money laundering arrangement.