Former Old School RuneScape developer Andrew “Mod Jed” Lakeman has been punished for stealing users’ in-game currency and valuables. The investigation into the case lasted for several years, culminating in a verdict at the Cambridge Court.
Lakeman, whose real name is Jed Sanderson, worked at Jagex and began using the account recovery system to access player accounts in 2018. He sold the gold and items he earned through the gray market in exchange for real money and cryptocurrencies. According to investigators, the scheme resulted in more than £300,000 in revenue, with more than £364,829 in funds related to cryptocurrency trading found in Lakeman’s account. Jagex is aware of these hacks and has determined that the attackers possess information that is not available to ordinary users.
Lakeman was arrested in July 2019 and faces multiple charges, including unauthorized computer access, theft and dealing in criminal assets. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Sept. 3 to three years of probation, two years of probation, 150 hours of community service and a 25-day mandatory rehabilitation program. The case also became important for British law: in early 2026, the Court of Appeal found that the Old School RuneScape gold was criminally stolen property.
