Prestigious Wine Merchant's IT Boss Jailed For Computer Crime

Prince Consort House

The IT manager of a prestigious 160 year-old wine merchant's is starting a two-year sentence for a cyber crime on his employer's.

Richard Slater, 48, of Spur Road, Orpington worked for Mentzendorff at their Thameside HQ in Prince Consort House, Albert Embankment, Lambeth.

The company was founded in London by Prussian-born Ludwig Mentzendorff in 1853 and received a royal warrant from Queen Victoria.

Slater was charged with committing unauthorised acts, with intent to impair the operation or hinder access to a computer, it's data or a programme in the company's eighth-floor office between June 22 and 30, 2012, contrary to the Computer Misuse Act.

He fought the case, but was convicted by a jury at Inner London Crown Court.