Rude NTL message not offensive enough to charge culprit

NTL is not known for its customer service. Actually that's not fair, it has a reputation for appalling customer service.

But even its low standards were breached back in September when customers phoning one of its call centres were greeted with a rather rude recorded message. Callers were told: "You're through to NTL customer services. We don't give a f*** about you. We're never here. Just f*** off and leave us alone. Get a life." The message was removed but not before several hundred customers heard it. After an urgent investigation the ISP tracked the call to the house of Ashley Gibbin, a 26 old year taxi driver from Teesside. He was charged with sending a grossly offensive message and faced a possible six month sentence.