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A Leicestershire teenager involved in hacking the computers of top ranking US government officials, including the head of the CIA, has appeared in court.

Kane Gamble, 18, has admitted intending to gain unauthorised access to data on FBI computers and the US Department of Justice’s network – as well as an advisor to the then president, Barack Obama.

Gamble, who was said by his barrister, William Harbage QC to be “on the autistic spectrum,” committed the cyber-crimes when aged 15 and 16, between June 2015 and February 2016.

He was arrested in February 2016 but has not been named publicly before now because of a court order which expired when he turned 18 this week.

Dressed in black, he was allowed to sit at the back of the court next to his mother.

Gamble infiltrated the high security accounts from his home in Linford Crescent, Coalville.

He pleaded guilty at Leicester Crown Court to two counts of causing a computer to perform a function with intent to secure unauthorised access to a program or data - within the FBI’s Law Enforcement Exchange Portal, in November and The US Department of Justice’s network, in February last year.

He further admitted six offences of causing a computer to perform a function with intent to secure unauthorised access to a program or data held in computers relating to:

John Brennan, the then head of the CIA

Mark Giuliano, the then deputy director of the FBI

Jeh Johnson, US Homeland Security Secretary

Avril Haines, believed to be White House deputy national security adviser

Amy Hess, FBI special agent

Vonna Weir Heaton, former intelligence executive of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.

Gamble also admitted unauthorised modification of computer material, namely diverting all incoming calls to a Comcast account operated by John Holdren which caused unauthorised modification of the contents of a computer and, at the time of doing the said act, he knew that such a modification was unauthorised and intended to cause such modification and by doing so to impair the operation of a computer, in February 2016.

Mr Holdren was director of the Office of Science and Technology and the then senior advisor of science and technology to Barak Obama.

Gamble admitted a similar offence in relation to diverting incoming calls to an account operated by James Clapper, a retired Lieutenant General in the USA Air force and Director of National Intelligence, in January, 2016.

John Lloyd-Jones QC, prosecuting, did not open the case for the Crown.

High court judge, Mr Justice Gilbert, adjourned the hearing for the preparation of psychiatric and pre-sentence reports.

He released Gamble on conditional bail and said: “I’m saying nothing about the outcome. All sentencing options will be open.”

Gamble will be sentenced at Leicester Crown Court in December by another high court judge, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave.

Press reports at the time of Gamble’s arrest said a British teenager had infiltrated the personal email account of US spy chief, John Brennan, and posted personal details online.

The court heard that whilst on bail, there had been no conditions limiting Gamble’s continued computer use.

His barrister, Mr Harbage said: “There was no restriction on his access to computers.

“He was arrested almost two years ago.

“He has an iPhone and a laptop.

“There has been no further offending.”

Mr Justice Gilbert said during the hearing: “It’s an anxious case which raises difficult issues.”