Suspended term for SA govt computer hacker

A man who used the names of famous British spies, the so called "Cambridge five", to hack into a government computer network has escaped an immediate jail term.

Paul David Hellander set up fake accounts in 2013 to gain access to the South Australian government's database of translators and interpreters.

His action was partly payback over what he believed were efforts by the government to push him out of his job with the interpreting service.

While on holiday in Greece, Hellander set up fake accounts using the names of the Cambridge Five spies, recruited from the UK by the Soviet Union in the 1950s.

Four of those spies were identified as Kim Philby, Donald Mclean, Guy Burgess and Anthony Blunt, with John Cairncross thought to be the fifth man.

Hellander pleaded guilty to one count of abuse of public office after an investigation by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption.

In sentencing on Tuesday, District Court Judge Paul Rice said the 62-year-old had felt humiliated, belittled and undermined by his treatment within the department and also wanted to show that its technology could be breached.

"There was an element of you wanting to get back at the department," the judge said.

He jailed Hellander for six months but suspended the term, placing him on a 12-month good behaviour bond.

Outside the court Hellander said he was pleased with the outcome and grateful for the faith the judge had shown in him.

He also thanked his family and his legal team and his "true friends".

"The ones who put aside prejudice and stood by me, shoulder-to-shoulder all the way," he said.