A computer programmer from Latvia will serve 14 years in prison for his role in helping to hackers to design malware that was used to carry out the Target data breach in late 2013.

According to a report by the Spokesman, Ruslan Bondars created "Scan4You" software, a program that allowed cybercriminals to search for and exploit vulnerabilities in payment systems.

Bondars had argued that his software had legal uses and should not be held responsible for illegal use by others. He said he felt "ashamed" that others had used it to commit cybercrimes.

The court was not sympathetic. According to the report, Judge Liam O'Grady said the argument was "an interesting theory," then added, "There's zero chance that you didn't know the harm being done by the malware hackers used your service to perfect."