News

TalkTalk hacker hit Withybush Hospital and others, costing tax payer £400,000

Published

7 years ago

June 12, 2019

A ‘CYNICAL and ruthless’ hacker, motivated by spite and greed, targeted the computer systems at Withybush Hospital, The Herald can confirm.

Daniel Kelley, now aged 21, hacked into networks at Withybush and Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli. When he did so, he prevented radiographers from viewing vital diagnostic images used to plan treatment for patients. The hacker also disrupted communications between different Health Board sites.

The Court heard that Kelley’s actions caused ‘a serious clinical risk of a catastrophic outcome’.

The hack cost the Welsh Government, which runs big public networks, £400,000 to repair its systems, improve its security systems, and prevent further hacks.

Kelley’s efforts in disrupting vital public services began when he implemented a Distributed Denial of Service attacks at Coleg Sir Gar, where he was a student.

Prosecutors alleged that Kelley’s motivation on that occasion was spite at being denied a place on a Level 3 computing course due to poor performance in his GCSEs.

A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack is an attack in which multiple compromised computer systems attack a target, such as a server, website or another network resource, and cause a denial of service for users of the targeted resource.

In Kelley’s case, he deliberately targeted the College’s computer infrastructure, causing disruption to systems accessed by students and teachers, including examinations.

Having accessed the College network, Kelley was able to exploit its connection to wider Welsh public service computer infrastructure and caused targeted disruption to other bodies which shared the network’s resources.

There is no sign that Kelley committed these acts for anything other than his amusement and the feeling of power it gave him.

While Kelley’s activities had widespread adverse consequences, his next step presented a major escalation.

He hijacked the computer systems of companies in Australia and Canada. The targets included Zippo Lighters, Rogers Communications, RC Hobbies, ISP JISC, TAFE Queensland, and a court transcription service called For the Record in Australia.

He attempted to blackmail company executives by targeting their loved ones and making threats to collapse companies by wrecking their computer systems.

Kelley was arrested in July 2015 but his most audacious blackmail attempt was yet to come.

In October that year, together with a group of other hackers, Kelley took part in “significant and sustained cyber-attack” on TalkTalk.

The group broke into broadband provider TalkTalk’s customer database and stole a copy of its contents.

The stolen records included customer names and addresses, dates of birth, payment card details, phone numbers, and email addresses.

Around 157,000 customers in the UK were caught up in the hack, which was said to have cost TalkTalk £77m to clean up and cost it immeasurably more in lost customer confidence and income.

Kelley then attempted to extort £80,000 in exchange for not leaking the swiped customer database onto the web.

Peter Ratliff, prosecuting, described Kelley as a “prolific, skilled and cynical cyber-criminal” who was willing to “bully, intimidate, and then ruin his chosen victims from a perceived position of anonymity and safety – behind the screen of a computer.

“Where confidential and sensitive information had been stolen in the hack – typically the personal and credit card details of the company’s clients – the defendant would threaten the company with the public release of the material, knowing and exploiting the fact that the release would risk the ruin of the company concerned.

“It is clear from the content of the emails that the defendant sent that he derived enjoyment and excitement from the power he wielded over those he sought to intimidate.”

Sentencing Kelley, Judge Mark Dennis said Kelley hacked computers “for his own personal gratification” regardless of the damage caused.

His attempts at blackmail revealed a “cruel and calculating side to his character”, Judge Dennis said.

Kelley was sentenced to youth detention due to his age at the time of his arrest.

A spokesperson for Hywel Dda University Health Board said “the NHS is increasingly reliant on the use of digital systems to support patient care we hope that this sentence will act as a deterrent to others from attempting to hack public sector organisations in Wales in the future.

“At the time, this hack caused a number issue in Hywel Dda including:-

Radiologists were unable to effectively report on diagnostic images because the reporting / dictation system we use were unresponsive during the Denial of Service attacks at Prince Philip Hospital. This seriously interrupted clinical workflow and wasted a great deal of Radiologist time. This could have adversely affected the care of patents including those critically ill/injured as without prompt, reliable access to images there is a serious clinical risk.
Our Patient Administration System at Prince Philip Hospital had response time issues causing difficulties on the Wards, A&E and Maternity departments as well as administrative areas like Medical Records.
Experienced delays with ICT services at other Health sites in the Llanelli area including Ammanford and Cross Hands Health Centres.

“Following this incident Welsh Government bolstered the Public Sector network (which all public bodies in Wales use) with hardware and software to detect and stop denial of service attacks in the future and mitigate the risks as far as possible.”

News

Pembrokeshire named among UK’s best destinations for stargazing and camping

Published

2 hours ago

July 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

County ranks third in UK study thanks to low light pollution, dark-sky campsites and coastal landscapes

PEMBROKESHIRE has been named the third-best county in the UK for a summer stargazing and camping trip.

The county achieved an overall score of 8.1 out of 10 in research examining light pollution, summer weather, campsite availability and access to nearby walking routes.

Only Devon and Dorset ranked higher.

Pembrokeshire recorded a Bortle scale score of 3.91, indicating relatively low levels of light pollution and favourable conditions for seeing stars and, on clear nights, the Milky Way.

A lower Bortle score represents darker skies, with ratings of around 4.5 or below generally considered suitable for good stargazing.

The research found that Pembrokeshire has around 120 campsites, including seven identified as particularly suitable for observing the night sky.

The county also recorded an average summer temperature of 17.1°C, with clear or partly clear skies expected on around 52.8% of days during July and August.

Its average chance of precipitation during the same period was calculated at 28.4%.

The study highlighted the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park as one of the county’s strongest attractions for stargazers, with Bortle scale readings in some areas falling as low as 3.5.

The combination of remote coastal locations, limited artificial lighting and a wide choice of campsites was said to make Pembrokeshire one of the UK’s best destinations for spending a night under the stars.

Devon topped the rankings with a score of 8.5, followed closely by Dorset on 8.4.

Carmarthenshire was placed joint sixth with a score of 7.8, while Ceredigion ranked joint eighth on 7.7.

The research was commissioned by Admiral Casino and analysed 35 UK counties.

Researchers compared light pollution levels, summer temperatures, rainfall probabilities, cloud cover, the number of dark-sky campsites, nearby hiking trails and overall campsite availability.

Data was collected in June 2026.

Crime

Former murder suspect released as police widen Ann Widdecombe investigation

Published

2 hours ago

July 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Detectives say inquiry is moving “at a significant pace” after 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder is ruled out

THE MURDER investigation into the death of former Conservative minister and Reform UK campaigner Ann Widdecombe has taken a dramatic new turn after the only suspect arrested in the case was released from custody and eliminated from police enquiries.

Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed early on Saturday morning (July 11) that the 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday is “no longer part of the investigation”.

The development leaves detectives searching for the person responsible for the death of the 78-year-old former MP, who was found dead with serious injuries at her home on Dartmoor.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said detectives remained focused on identifying those responsible.

He said: “Our priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined.

“Detectives continue to carry out numerous enquiries as part of the ongoing investigation and we remain committed to establishing the full circumstances surrounding the incident.”

Last known movements emerge

New details have also emerged about Widdecombe’s final known communications.

The former minister appeared on TalkTV on Wednesday morning, discussing Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

Later that day she was reportedly due to take part in a video interview for a Channel 5 current affairs programme.

According to reports, a researcher exchanged messages with Widdecombe shortly after midday, with her final known response received at 12.19pm.

A further message sent shortly before a scheduled Zoom interview went unanswered.

Television presenter Dan Walker later revealed that concerns were raised after Widdecombe failed to join the programme and stopped responding to messages.

The information has since been passed to police as part of the investigation.

Found with serious injuries

Police were called to Widdecombe’s home, known as Widdecombe’s Rest, in the village of Haytor on the edge of Dartmoor, at around 11.40am on Thursday after concerns were raised.

Officers attended alongside the ambulance service and discovered Widdecombe had suffered serious injuries and had died at the scene.

Her death was initially announced publicly on Friday morning by her management team, which at the time made no mention of suspicious circumstances.

However, just hours later, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Team had launched a murder inquiry.

A 26-year-old man was arrested in Newton Abbot on Friday afternoon before being released overnight.

Police presence remains

A large police cordon remains in place around the property, with forensic officers continuing examinations throughout Saturday.

Road closures are still in force around the scene while officers carry out house-to-house enquiries and review CCTV and other evidence.

Police have stressed there is currently no indication the incident was politically motivated and it is not being treated as terrorism-related.

Mr Longman said the investigation was still in its early stages but was progressing rapidly.

“We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened,” he said.

Tributes continue

Tributes have continued to pour in from across the political spectrum.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the death as “really shocking news” and said he had spoken with political leaders including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood called the circumstances “extremely distressing” and urged the public to avoid speculation.

In Wales, Reform UK Wales described Widdecombe as “a true patriot and a fierce champion of Brexit”.

Senedd members Laura Anne Jones and Llŷr Powell also paid tribute, while former Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: “You always knew where you stood with Ann.”

Community in shock

Residents in Haytor have spoken of their disbelief at events in what is normally regarded as one of Devon’s safest rural communities.

Neighbour Christine Maloney said locals frequently left doors and cars unlocked.

“It’s very, very safe around here,” she said. “I leave my car open, I leave my front door open – not now.”

Another resident, Simon Gilbert, said: “She didn’t deserve to die like that.”

Widdecombe moved to the property in 2008 after retiring from Parliament, naming it Widdecombe’s Rest because, she said at the time, it would be “the rest of my life”.

Police have appealed for anyone with information, dashcam footage or CCTV from the Haytor area to contact officers immediately.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Devon and Cornwall Police quoting the incident.

Crime

Three more arrested after 18-year-old dies in Gorseinon crash

Published

18 hours ago

July 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Five people are now in custody following a collision involving a car and an off-road motorcycle

THREE more men have been arrested after an 18-year-old died following a collision between a car and an off-road motorcycle in Gorseinon.

South Wales Police were called to Pen Cae Crwn Road at around 12:58pm on Thursday, where the teenager, who is believed to have been from Swansea, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A second man, aged 19, was taken to hospital with injuries.

Two 18-year-old men were arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday.

Police confirmed on Friday that a further three arrests had been made.

A 33-year-old man from Gorseinon was arrested on suspicion of murder.

A 38-year-old man from Gowerton and a 38-year-old man from Mount Pleasant were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

The latest arrests bring the total number of people detained in connection with the investigation to five.

Several roads in the area remained closed on Friday morning while officers continued their investigation.

Cordons had been removed from some streets, although traffic cones, road signs and police tape remained at the roadside.

Gorseinon Rugby Club chairman Ian Murphy said the local community had been left in “deep shock”.

He said: “For youngsters to get involved in a tragedy like this is shocking and disturbing, very disturbing for us all.