Computer whizz faces jail for writing programme to steal personal details of 8 MILLION people, including 400 PayPal accounts

A computer expert who 'plotted a £350,000 fraud' is facing jail today after admitting he stole the personal details of more than eight million people.

Edward Pearson, 23, also admitted he illegally obtained the credit card details of 400 PayPal customers in an 18-month scam.

His 21-year-old sociology student girlfriend also admitted trying to pay for luxury hotel stays using the stolen PayPal details.

Cassandra Mennim pleaded guilty to obtaining services dishonestly after admitting telling staff at two luxury York hotels she would make payments of around £700 using stolen credit card details.

Pearson, originally from Blandford Forum, Dorset, admitted three counts relating to fraud offences.

He confessed to having access to more than 400 compromised PayPal accounts and the illegally obtained personal details of more than eight million people.

Pearson wrote the two pieces of software used to accumulate the vast amount of data discovered on the computers.

Prosecutors have previously stated that Pearson plotted with Miss Mennim to pull off a £350,000 fraud.