THE story of a blackmailer and hacker from Flintshire who was unmasked following an FBI investigation has been retold as part of a TV show.
An episode in the new series of Crimewatch Caught delves into the archive to take a closer look at the case of Barry Byrne.
Following an FBI investigation into an online criminal marketplace named Genesis, Byrne's online activities were discovered and later led to his arrest and sentencing.
It was found he'd blackmailed a couple from Croatia - accessing their email account and using copies of personal documents to try and extort a "ransom" payment out of them.
Whilst that was going on, he bragged about the crime to a friend - messaging: "I found loads of useful stuff, so much personal stuff that should not be in my hands, lol."
The analysis of his phone revealed he'd been dealing cannabis for some time - leaving quantities of the substance in the barbecue in his garden for his customers to collect.
He'd also been illegally selling internet TV packages for services such as Sky sports and movies.
And over a period of time he instructed and encouraged another man to learn how to 'phish' or hack into other people's computers with a view to mine bitcoin.
The show includes an interview with DCI Chris McClellan of the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit who was involved in the arrest of Byrne. It shows how the unit, covering north Wales and the north west of England, used digital forensics to uncover the extent of the Byrne's criminality.
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For 40 years, Crimewatch has brought audiences the biggest crimes with unprecedented access to detectives from across the UK.
As part of its anniversary, this compelling new series is revealing the investigations behind the headlines.
Told by the detectives involved, as well as the victims and their families, each episode is showing how the cases were solved and how justice was served.
The latest episode also covers how a gang of masked thieves who committed burglaries across Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot is caught.
All fifteen episodes, including five episodes from Wales, are available to watch on iPlayer.
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