A British schoolboy hacker has narrowly escaped jail after sparking a nuclear panic by keying into a top secret American weapons laboratory.

Joseph McElroy, who was instead ordered to serve a 200-hour community punishment order, bypassed the facility's electronic security systems with sophisticated software he had developed and nicknamed Deathserv.

The 16-year-old wanted to use the advanced network's power to download and store films and music from the internet.

London's Southwark Crown Court heard that once he had succeeded, he used a special password to protect his collection and cover up his "parasitic" invasion.

But his need to share his success with fellow hackers proved to be his downfall.

At SMH.

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