Recruiter Chaplin cautioned after Stark Brooks hacking complaint

RECRUITER Gary Chaplin has been cautioned by Greater Manchester Police after he hacked his former employer’s computer network and server.

Manchester-based Stark Brooks called in the police in February and Mr Chaplin was arrested on June 27 and accepted a caution after admitting unauthorised access to computer material, in breach of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and its amendments under the Police and Justice Act 2006.

Mr Chaplin resigned from Oxford Road-based Stark Brooks in December 2011 after he after sent an offensive reply to a mass email from a potential candidate. The furore over his email made headlines in the national media.

In a statement Stark Brooks said it was now taking legal advice regarding possible civil action against Mr Chaplin, who now runs his own executive headhunting consultancy.

It said: “We have conducted a full review of our network security and are completely satisfied the security vulnerability has been eliminated. We are now taking advice in relation to potential civil action against the perpetrator.”

Mr Chaplin, who was recently forced to apologise and settle a legal claim from a Manchester business leader, Rob Cotton , over remarks he made about him on Twitter, said: “I voluntarily met with the police, without need for representation, to assist with their enquiries regarding events of seven months ago.

“The police were fully satisfied and ceased all investigation immediately”.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed to TheBusinessDesk.com that a caution had been issued following a complaint and the matter was now concluded.