The Hertfordshire computer hacker Adam Mudd has been sentenced to two years in a young offenders institute after pleading guilty to computer hacking offences.

Judge Michael Topolski said he took into account the defendant's diagnosis of autism in his sentencing.

But the judge also drew attention to the "truly world-wide nature of this kind of criminality" and said the defendant's offences had caused "great and lasting damage".

Mr Topolski added: "He knew full well he was committing serious crime and in doing so was taking a risk with his liberty."

Image source, Central News

The Old Bailey heard Mudd, 20, of Toms Lane, Kings Langley created the Titanium Stresser "malware" in 2013, when he was 16 years old, and sold it to cyber criminals across the world. 

The programme had 112,000 registered users who were responsible for about 1.7 million "distributed denial of service" attacks on websites, including gaming sites such as RuneScape, Minecraft and Xbox Live.  

The court heard there were about 25,000 attacks on RuneScape and the company which owns it spent £6m trying to defend itself.  

Prosecutors said Mudd carried out 594 attacks himself, including one on West Herts College, where he was studying computer science.

Other attacks including websites belonging to the University of Cambridge, UEA and University of Essex.   

Adam Mudd hacked gaming sites including Xbox Live and Runescape to earn money, a court hears.

A computer hacker has been sentenced to two years in a young offenders institution after pleading guilty to computer hacking.

The Old Bailey heard how Adam Mudd, 20, from Kings Langley in Hertfordshire, developed a hacking programme responsible for more than 1.7 million attacks worldwide, including ones on websites belonging to the universities of Cambridge, UEA and Essex.

Mudd was just 16 when he created what he called the "Titanium Stresser", which made him more than £300,000.

Image source, Hertfordshire Police

Dean Bowditch becomes the third player to announce their departure from Milton Keynes Dons at the end of the season.

BBC Weather

There will be some sunshine this afternoon but showers will develop, some of these becoming heavy and perhaps giving sleet or hail with a risk of thunder. 

It will feel cold in strengthening northerly winds. 

Maximum temperature: 10C (50F).

For the full forecast where you are, visit BBC Weather.  

Nicola Haseler
BBC Three Counties

The University of Bedfordshire has teamed up with Bedfordshire Police to transform how cyber-harassment is investigated. 

It comes as a criminologist claims hundreds of murders could have been prevented if more attention had been paid to the killer's stalking behaviour.

Dr Jane Monckton Smith, a senior criminologist and former police officer, studied the behaviour of 350 killers and found that in almost every case the perpetrator displayed obsessive stalking behaviour before going on to kill. 

It's estimated by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, external that only 9% of people who have experienced cyber-harassment actually report the crime.

Image source, Getty Images

Researchers from the National Centre for Cyberstalking Research, external, which is based at the University of Bedfordshire, are now working on a two-year project with Bedfordshire Police to make sure cases that are reported to police are appropriately dealt with.

Dr Emma Short, director at the National Centre for Cyberstalking Research, said: "The initial work we have done with focus groups supports those figures with many victims not recognising they were subjects of a crime, even when they had to cope with long term abuse and threats."

Det Ch Insp Chris Beresford of Bedfordshire Police's Cyber Hub said: "We are extremely excited to be at the forefront of a ground-breaking and potentially national framework, which we hope will see a rise in positive case outcomes, increased reporting and an improvement in the victim experience."

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

A man's body has been recovered from a lake in a High Wycombe park this morning.

Image source, Peter Jemmett/Geograph

Firefighters from Bucks Fire and Rescue's Water Rescue Unit recovered the body from The Dyke at The Rye just after 07:00. 

A police investigation is under way.

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

A plan to restrict the number of fast food restaurants near Luton primary and secondary schools is being considered. 

It follows a similar plan by Milton Keynes Council to set up an "exclusion zone" for hot food takeaways.

The director of public health at Luton Borough Council, Gerry Taylor, said: "We've got lots of things in place to try and tackle childhood obesity, but we've been looking at what they've been doing in other parts of the country and Milton Keynes is a good example.

"What we're proposing is to look at the feasibility and then come forward with a more detailed proposal."

The sentencing hearing is due to resume later for a teenager who made about £360,000 creating and selling computer hacking software.

Image source, Central News

Adam Mudd, now 20, of Kings Langley in Hertfordshire, has admitted various offences under the Computer Misuse Act.

His software was used to target the websites of games including Minecraft, Runescape and Xbox Live.

The Old Bailey has already heard that he personally attacked the websites of colleges including the University of Cambridge, University of East Anglia and University of Essex.

On Friday, Judge Michael Topolski QC said he would not be rushed in determining what Mudd's sentence would be. The hearing is due to resume at 12:00 in London.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Hertfordshire's Olympic cycling champion Laura Kenny and her husband Jason are among a host of Olympians being honoured at Buckingham Palace today.

They will receive a CBE for their services to cycling.

Image source, PA

Laura, a four-time Olympic champion, married six-time Olympic champion Jason Kenny in September 2016 and the couple announced earlier this year they are expecting a baby.

Bedford rowing cox Phelan Hill will also be at the palace to receive an MBE after his team struck gold in Rio.

Usman Azad
BBC Three Counties Radio

An investigation is under way in Luton after a shooting took place in Farley Hill yesterday afternoon.

The injured man was airlifted from Whipperley Ring to hospital. 

Residents have raised concerns that it happened around the time children were being collected from school.

A woman who lives nearby said she saw the incident.

She told me: "I saw the boys getting out of the car and the next minute a car came past, one shot went off, it hit a boy on the side of the rib and they all ran."

Police have cordoned off a house and scenes of crime officers are expected to examine the area of the shooting this morning.

BBC News Travel

One lane is closed on the M1 southbound between J12 for Flitwick and J11 for Dunstable while a vehicle recovery takes place.

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

After a chilly start it will become a mostly dry morning with sunny spells.

Showers developing later, with some of these becoming heavy and perhaps turning to sleet or hail with a risk of thunder.

Feeling cold in strengthening northerly winds.

Highs of 10C (50F).

Stay up-to-date with the weather where you are on the BBC Weather website.

Colin Paterson
Entertainment Correspondent, BBC Radio 5 live

Sir Elton John has cancelled a series of shows in Las Vegas after suffering from a "potentially deadly" bacterial infection.

The former Watford chairman contracted the infection during his recent tour of South America, but is expected to make a complete recovery.

Sir Elton was flying back to the UK from Chile at the end of his South American tour when he became violently ill on the plane.

Image source, Reuters

Once back in Britain he was immediately taken to hospital and spent two nights in intensive care before being discharged on Saturday.

His spokesperson said the singer had contracted a rare bacterial infection, but is comfortably resting at home.

As a result, he has cancelled the next five shows of his Las Vegas residency.

Sir Elton is expected to make a full recovery and is set to resume playing live on 3 June.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome back to Local Live across Beds, Herts and Bucks.

We'll be here until 18:00 with your news, weather, travel and sport updates.

Throughout the day we'll bring you any news on the shooting which took place in Luton yesterday afternoon.

As always, if you want to get in touch you can by email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

That's it for Monday from all of us here at Local Live for Beds, Bucks and Herts. 

We'll be back from 08:00 tomorrow with more news, sport, travel and weather. 

But look out for updates on stories later tonight.

And if you missed anything in our coverage today, just scroll down for the details.

Let's hope the poor weather promised this week does not affect the colourful gardens now developing, like this display in Letchworth Garden City photographed by a BBC Weather Watcher.

Image source, carlas garden

See you again tomorrow.

Dan Holley
BBC Look East weather

I'm afraid it could be true...

Cloud and patchy rain will clear this evening, leaving much of the night dry and clear. Showers will spread from the east, which could be accompanied by hail and sleet.

Becoming cold with a risk of frost as temperatures fall to -2C (28F), perhaps limited somewhat by the strength of the north-westerly wind.

It will be a cold start to Tuesday but with some good spells of sunshine. Any early showers will develop through the day with sleet, hail and local thunder possible.

Feeling cold in the north-westerly wind, with temperatures reaching highs of 11C (52F).

You can find out the detailed forecast for where you live on the BBC Weather website.

David Keller
BBC News

We've just received some more information about the alleged shooting in Luton this afternoon.

The East of England Ambulance Service said it was called to Whipperley Ring at 15:37 and three ambulances and the air ambulance were sent to the scene.

Paramedics treated a man and he was flown to hospital for further care, a spokeswoman said.

Police are investigating what happened and have appealed for witnesses.

Don't get left outside on polling day. Here are details of what you need and where you need to go to register for the general election on 8 June:

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Police and the air ambulance are at an incident in Whipperley Ring, Luton, where it's believed there's been a shooting this afternoon.

Emergency services were called at approximately 15:30 after a man was found injured. 

An investigation has been launched and officers are appealing for witnesses and information.