Security executive jailed for Aviva phone attack

The former director of a security company has been jailed for hacking into the systems of insurance firm Aviva, launching malicious attacks including wiping all the data on hundreds of devices.

Richard Neale, previously director at Esselar, the company contracted to look after Aviva's security, admitted he broke into the insurance firm's system, as well as hacking into his employer's IT network to reject expenses claims.

After breaking into Esselar's systems, Neale hacked into the company's Twitter account and changed its profile picture to a bleeding heart, showing followers on the social network the company's systems had been compromised.

Neale sold his shares in Esselar after a disagreement with the company's co-founders Shane Taylor and Simon Rogan in 2013 over an insurance payout. This led to hostile feelings towards the company's remaining owners, Neale's lawyer Kevin Barry said.

"The aim of the attack was to ridicule Esselar. There was a degree of sophisticated planning," said prosecutor, Fiona Alexander.

"The offending persisted over a period of five months. The defendant was motivated by revenge - a serious aggravating feature. There was a grave breach of trust. It wasn't intended to target just Esselar but also... Aviva. Over 900 devices were wiped by the defendant's actions."

Judge Neil Stewart said Neale's actions damaged Esselar's reputation "in a way that can be far-reaching and serious."

The company ended up losing Aviva's contract, which was worth 80,000-a-year and other funds amounting to more than 528,000 in total.

"Yes, we survived, but there were times we thought we may not. Our brand was damaged to the point we felt we needed to rebrand," Alexander wrote in a statment read out to the court.