Lancashire computer geek jailed over secret computer password

Oliver Drage

A teenage computer geek who refused to disclose the password he used to "lock" his computer has been put behind bars four months in a case that is believed to be the first of its kind in Lancashire.

Oliver Drage, 19, of Naze Lane, Freckleton, was arrested in May 2009 and his computer was seized.

But detectives could not access material stored on the machine since it was protected by a 50-character encryption password.

Drage was formerly requested to disclose the password, but refused to hand-over the information.

At Preston Crown Court, Drage pleaded not guilty to failing to disclose an encryption key - an offence covered by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

At his trial in September a jury took less than 15 minutes to find him guilty of the offence and following social enquiry reports Drage has been sentenced to 16 weeks in a Young Offenders Institution.

Detective Sergeant Neil Fowler, Blackpool Police, said: "Drage was previously of good character so the immediate custodial sentence handed down by the judge in this case shows just how seriously the courts take this kind of offence.

“Computer systems are constantly advancing and the legislation used here was specifically brought in to deal with those who are using the internet to commit crime.

"It sends a robust message out to those intent on trying to mask their on-line criminal activities that they will be taken before the courts with the ultimate sanction, as in this case, being a custodial sentence.”

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