Norwich Youth Court heard the boy claim he was “just showing off” and had told friends he had “done enough to go to prison” following the breach.

He told magistrates: "I didn't really think of the consequences at the time. I was just showing off to my mates."

The teenager was arrested in Norwich on November 3 last year and charged with breaching the Computer Misuse Act 1990 following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police's Cyber Crime Unit.

He admitted the seven charges when he appeared at Norwich Youth Court on Tuesday. Sentencing was adjourned to December 13.

Laura Tams, prosecuting, said the charges stemmed from the high-profile cyber attack on TalkTalk, but also included attacks on other websites, including Manchester University, Cambridge University and that of Merit Badges, a small family company that supplies martial arts badges.