Teenage cyber 'hacker' granted conditional bail
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Home with his mum: Teenage cyber 'hacker' granted conditional bail (but he's not allowed to use the internet)
A computer hacker accused of launching a 'cyber attack' on Britain's equivalent of the FBI returned home last night - but only after his mother promised not to let him surf the internet.
Ryan Cleary, an alleged key member of computer hacking network LulzSec, was reunited with his mother, Rita, after being granted bail following seven days in police custody.
The 19-year-old recluse was arrested last Monday on suspicion of sabotaging organisations including the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA).
Support: Ryan Cleary was accompanied by his mother Rita as he left Southwark Crown Court today on conditional bail
Hacker: Cleary is accused of targeting the computers of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and the British Phonographic Industry
Counsel: Cleary and his mother Rita, left, were deep in conversation with his lawyer Karen Todner, right, after being released on conditional bail
It was the first time he had left his home in Wickford, Essex, since Christmas, spending most of that time in his bedroom.
Mrs Cleary told the Daily Mail: 'I'm so relieved to have him home - the last seven days have been the longest in our lives.
'Had he been remanded for any longer I don't think he would have coped.
'He told me he was going out of his mind in there.
'He's just so pleased to come home to me and his cat. He said he feels "free".'
The teenager, who was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome while in custody, is accused of launching cyber attacks to crash websites.
Change: Cleary left court in a taxi accompanied by his mother today, a far cry from his last hearing
He had been granted bail at a hearing on Saturday, but the prosecution appealed the decision.
After hearing a plea from his mother at Southwark Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith dismissed the appeal, allowing Cleary to be freed on bail.
Mrs Cleary assured the court she would not let her son access the internet while he was living with her.
She told the court that she was aware of her son's lack of an offline social life, saying: 'I'm his best friend, because he's reclusive.'
She added: 'He's my life.'
The LulzSec group has been linked to attacks on the websites of the NHS, the CIA, and computer games companies Sony and Nintendo.
Cleary, who has been electronically tagged, is charged with five offences under the Computer Misuse and Criminal Law Acts.
He is alleged to have taken part in a denial-of-service attack - crippling a website by overwhelming it with requests for data - which briefly brought down SOCA's site last Monday.
He is also accused of involvement in two similar attacks on the websites of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and its British counterpart on November 28 and October 29 respectively.
A further charge alleges that he 'made, adapted, supplied or offered to supply' access to a 'botnet' - a network of computers, hijacked without their owners' knowledge - for use in the attacks.
The teenager will appear at Southwark Crown Court again on August 30.
Outside the court, his solicitor, Karen Todner, said: 'He has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and he will now be provided with the professional support he needs. 'One thing that is positive from this case is that the British police are investigating and appear to be accepting jurisdiction.'
A computer hacker accused of launching a 'cyber attack' on Britain's equivalent of the FBI returned home last night - but only after his mother promised not to let him surf the internet.
Ryan Cleary, an alleged key member of computer hacking network LulzSec, was reunited with his mother, Rita, after being granted bail following seven days in police custody.
The 19-year-old recluse was arrested last Monday on suspicion of sabotaging organisations including the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA).
Support: Ryan Cleary was accompanied by his mother Rita as he left Southwark Crown Court today on conditional bail
Hacker: Cleary is accused of targeting the computers of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and the British Phonographic Industry
Counsel: Cleary and his mother Rita, left, were deep in conversation with his lawyer Karen Todner, right, after being released on conditional bail
It was the first time he had left his home in Wickford, Essex, since Christmas, spending most of that time in his bedroom.
Mrs Cleary told the Daily Mail: 'I'm so relieved to have him home - the last seven days have been the longest in our lives.
'Had he been remanded for any longer I don't think he would have coped.
'He told me he was going out of his mind in there.
'He's just so pleased to come home to me and his cat. He said he feels "free".'
The teenager, who was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome while in custody, is accused of launching cyber attacks to crash websites.
Change: Cleary left court in a taxi accompanied by his mother today, a far cry from his last hearing
He had been granted bail at a hearing on Saturday, but the prosecution appealed the decision.
After hearing a plea from his mother at Southwark Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith dismissed the appeal, allowing Cleary to be freed on bail.
Mrs Cleary assured the court she would not let her son access the internet while he was living with her.
She told the court that she was aware of her son's lack of an offline social life, saying: 'I'm his best friend, because he's reclusive.'
She added: 'He's my life.'
The LulzSec group has been linked to attacks on the websites of the NHS, the CIA, and computer games companies Sony and Nintendo.
Cleary, who has been electronically tagged, is charged with five offences under the Computer Misuse and Criminal Law Acts.
He is alleged to have taken part in a denial-of-service attack - crippling a website by overwhelming it with requests for data - which briefly brought down SOCA's site last Monday.
He is also accused of involvement in two similar attacks on the websites of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and its British counterpart on November 28 and October 29 respectively.
A further charge alleges that he 'made, adapted, supplied or offered to supply' access to a 'botnet' - a network of computers, hijacked without their owners' knowledge - for use in the attacks.
The teenager will appear at Southwark Crown Court again on August 30.
Outside the court, his solicitor, Karen Todner, said: 'He has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and he will now be provided with the professional support he needs. 'One thing that is positive from this case is that the British police are investigating and appear to be accepting jurisdiction.'
Comments
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Carrying his things: Cleary clutches his possessions in a clear bag as he leaves court today
Covered: Ryan Cleary was shielded by police when he arrived at court for his first bail hearing on Saturday before being granted conditional bail today -
What a ? loser!!!
No wonder LulzSec disbanded. After his details came out, nobody wanted to be known to have been associated with him.
Fits all the stereotypes people have been associating with hackers. lol. When he was arrested was the first time he's left his house since Christmas. He doesn't have a social life outside the internet. 'He's just so pleased to come home to me and his cat.'
Hes gonna go ? mad if he cannot use the internet for a few months.
LMAO!! -
If he cant use the internet he will ? himself and im not even joking
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'He's just so pleased to come home to me and his cat.'.....I lol'd @ this.
But hold up, it said he hacked the British version of the FBI and to get off, all he had to do was promise not to use the internet? Granted that he probably will ? himself, wtf kind of lame ass sentence is that? smh @ anyone who thinks he won't use the net again. And they wonder why hackers go hard when the law is giving these weak ass sentences. -
funkdocdamc wrote: »'He's just so pleased to come home to me and his cat.'.....I lol'd @ this.
But hold up, it said he hacked the British version of the FBI and to get off, all he had to do was promise not to use the internet? Granted that he probably will ? himself, wtf kind of lame ass sentence is that? smh @ anyone who thinks he won't use the net again. And they wonder why hackers go hard when the law is giving these weak ass sentences.
No sir. He hasn't gotten off. He is on bail. That is a bail condition. They wanted to keep him in jail on remand until the trial, but they allowed him bail and this is a condition of the bail. If they find out he breaks it, then its to jail until the trial. No bail, no home, no mum, no cat. -
No sir. He hasn't gotten off. He is on bail. That is a bail condition. They wanted to keep him in jail on remand until the trial, but they allowed him bail and this is a condition of the bail. If they find out he breaks it, then its to jail until the trial. No bail, no home, no mum, no cat.
Oh aight then. What kind of sentencing is he facing or did they not disclose that info yet? -
funkdocdamc wrote: »Oh aight then. What kind of sentencing is he facing or did they not disclose that info yet?
The article didn't say, and I'm not too familiar with British Law (even though our Law is taken from Britain). But seeing as he is 19 and needs his mum, they will use probably use him to catch the others in exchange for a soft sentence - most likely a heavy fine. -
renagade410. wrote: »If he cant use the internet he will ? himself and im not even jokingHes gonna go ? mad if he cannot use the internet for a few months.
reminds me of certain posters that dedicate (meaning WASTE) their lives trying to be a "legend" on a message board
Shots Fired. -
no more EDF...
