A jury will decide whether a teenage ‘hacker’ from Oxford blackmailed the developers of video game Grand Theft Auto, it has been reported.

Arion Kurtaj, 18, was reportedly assessed as not fit to stand trial at a hearing at Southwark Crown Court this month.

Prosecutors claim that the alleged member of the Lapsus$ group targeted ride hailing firm Uber, fintech company Revolut and Rockstar Games last autumn.

He is accused of messaging Rockstar staff and threatening to release the firm’s code for a sequel in the Grand Theft Auto series.

READ MORE: Developer rocked as GTA footage leaked by hacker

Together with a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, he is also said to have blackmailed BT Group, EE and electronic chip maker Nvidia Corp.

News agency Reuters reported that Kurtaj, who faces charges of blackmail, fraud and offences under the Computer Misuse Act, had been assessed by psychiatrists as unfit to stand trial.

A jury will decide whether or not he committed the offences alleged by the Crown. 

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