Hacker

LONDON, Ont. – A former Western University graduate student who hacked into the students' union election site last February has been granted a conditional discharge.

Keith Horwood, 23, pleaded guilty Thursday to intercepting computer functions and mischief to data for successfully breaching the University Students' Council election website on election night.

He posted remarks about Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez and changed the word "election" to "erection".

He also tried delete all the votes.

Horwood offered an online apology and spoke in court about how he wasn't trying to hurt anyone when he found out he could get into the system.

He agreed to pay the university $10,219.84 in restitution for the re-run of the election that was necessary after the hack.

He must also complete a year of probation and 100 hours of community service.

Ontario Court Justice John Skowronski said Horwood shouldn't be saddled with a criminal record.

"You've been charged with a criminal offence but you're not a criminal," the judge said.

Horwood dropped out of his master's program in biochemical engineering and has started his own software company.

"I doubt we'll see each other again, Mr. Horwood," Skowronski said. "Unless I see you on the cover of Macleans or Time magazine."

More later at lfpress.com

jane.sims@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @JaneatLFPress