NTL 'f*ck off' tirade not grossly offensive, says judge

The taxi driver who replaced NTL's customer service helpline's automated hold message with a four-letter tirade has been acquitted from Teeside Magistrate's court.

Ashley Gibbins decided to replace NTL's 'thank you for holding' customer services spiel with his own salutation after being on the receiving end of a one-hour wait to talk to NTL about getting a broadband connection.

Upon ringing the helpline number, NTL customers were greeted with Gibbins' message: "Hello, you are through to NTL customer services. We don't give a f*ck about you, basically, and we're not going to handle any of your complaints. Just f*ck off and leave us alone. Get a life."

The message, which was greeted NTL customers in the northeast, was intended as a joke, according to Gibbins.

According to the Teeside judge, the message was not 'grossly offensive' and therefore Gibbins could not be prosecuted.