The Police Scotland hacker, who also targeted British Airways and CEX has escaped jail time, after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

Kevin Dixon bought a piece of hacking software called Stress Time, online and used it to attack Police Scotland and the Durham Constabulary, as well as commercial organisations including British Airways and retailer CEX.

While many of the attacks were ineffective, some caused drops in traffic, or left sites inaccessible. The court heard that Dixon bragged about his attacks online and asked for further targets.

When he was arrested, Dixon initially claimed that hackers has compromised his machine and were responsible for the attacks. Dixon finally admitted to carrying out the attacks himself, when police found no evidence of third party involvement. At his trial in April, Dixon pled guilty to five counts of unauthorised modification of computer material.

Sam Faulks, who defended Dixon, told Judge John Aitken, “This defendant is certainly not a criminal mastermind.”

Dixon was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to abide by an electrically monitored curfew, pay £200 costs and £100 victim charge.

Judge Aitken told Dixon he carried out the attacks to boost his own ego: “What you were doing was bragging to your friends. It’s as desperate as that.

“You’re a 21-year-old bragging to people who are still at school about what you could do.”