Network Rail hacker spared jail because of overcrowding crisis

Telegraph

10-07-2025

An IT worker who hacked the Network Rail network with an anti-Islam message walked free after a judge took into account prison overcrowding.
Customers who connected to the Wi-Fi at 19 major railway stations across the UK viewed information about major terror attacks including 7/7 and the Manchester Arena bombing.
John Wik had discussed defacing the page with a colleague, citing the 'significant political damage' he could cause.
The hacker worked for Global Reach providing public Wi-Fi networks to major companies, including Network Rail.
Wik hijacked the usual WiFi terms and conditions page with his anti-Islam message which was headed: 'We love you, Europe. The Islamisation of Europe is already happening and it's getting worse each day.'
His message warning of future terror attacks was seen by a 'significant number of people' was up for several hours on Sept 25, 2024 before it was removed.
'Fascination with Islamist terror attacks'
Vincent Scully, prosecuting, said the offence 'required some level of sophistication. It required logging into multiple systems, and drafting quite a long document that didn't contain many spelling errors.'
He added: 'This was a particularly sensitive social climate. It was a few weeks after the Axel Rudakubana incident and the riots at the start of August.
'Mr Wik's internet history shows that he has a long-standing fascination with Islamist terror attacks and at some stage a fascination with converting to Islam himself.
'Clearly there is some level of tension between those two.'
Stations affected by the attack included Paddington, Kings Cross, London Bridge, Victoria, Bristol Temple Meads, Birmingham New Street, Glasgow Central and Manchester Piccadilly.
Wik earlier admitted distributing threatening material intending to stir up religious hatred, which carries the maximum of a seven-year jail sentence.
He was handed a suspended jail sentence after Judge Baraitser took into account the lack of space in prisons.
'Prison population is close to capacity'
Appearing at Inner London Crown Court the judge told Wik: 'Customers were redirected to a landing page that contained threatening and Islamophobic messages.'
The page listed major terror attacks that had taken place in Europe in recent years, including the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, the 7/7 London Tube and bus bombings, and the Bataclan Theatre massacre in Paris in 2015. The message also contained photos of the victims and the terrorists.
Wik had shown an interest in converting to Islam a few years earlier, the court heard.
The judge took prison conditions into account when she handed Wik a two year suspended sentence. 'You are being sentenced at a time when the prison population is very high and close to capacity', she said.
Andrew Cohen, defending, said Wik had 'not incited violence in his message'.
Wik, of Bromley, south London, was given a 24-month prison sentence suspended for 24 months. He will have to complete 280 hours of unpaid work and 25 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement. The 37-year-old will also have to pay £150 in costs and a victim surcharge within 28 days.