´óÏó´«Ã½

A teenager who made a computer virus to target a celebrity boxing match and hundreds of financial institutions has been given a suspended sentence.

Josh Maunder, 19, targeted websites through a Distributed Denial of Service attack, which overloads a system with requests which are difficult to stop.

Targets included Nationwide and the server hosting a boxing match between rapper KSI and YouTube star Logan Paul.

The Co Down teen was 15 when the crimes occurred between 2017 and 2018.

He used a program called stress.wtf, which he created when he was 12, Belfast Crown Court heard.

Maunder, of Abbey Park in Bangor, pleaded guilty to 19 computer misuse offences.

The judge said that while there was no doubt Maunder was highly skilled, he described the attacks as "malicious" and "unauthorised", adding that he believed Maunder was motivated by "online fame and kudos" from other online hackers, gamers and YouTubers.

Handing down the sentence to Maunder, the judge said he would "have to bear in mind you were a child when the offences were committed".

A total sentence of 20 months, suspended for three years, was passed.

PSNI Det Sgt McCarragher said Wednesday's sentencing was the result of a "complex investigation into a vast range of cyber-attacks with a domestic and international dimension".

The PSNI said Maunder had caused a substantial loss to a financial company, numerous police public information websites, a human rights group and also had involvement in organising an orchestrated cyber-attack on a pay-per-view celebrity boxing event.

"Further to this, he was in possession of malicious software and managed an online community of peers engaged in prolific computer misuse offences which was also successfully impacted by the investigation," said PSNI Det Sgt McCarragher.

"This should send a clear message to those involved in this type of crime that they will be vigorously pursued and brought before the courts to face the consequences of such activity."