"I can't believe I was such an arse," he later reflected.

6. Jo Moore has a very bad day

As the World Trade Centre fell on September 11, 2001, Transport Secretary Stephen Byers' special adviser Jo Moore (above) emailed colleagues saying it was a good day to bury bad news. She had to apologise after the email became public.

7. Racist and sexist

When black secretary Rachel

Walker announced her resignation from his firm, lawyer Adam Dowdney emailed a colleague saying: "Can we go for a real fit busty blonde this time?" Walker somehow saw the message and sued for sex and race discrimination. She received £10,000 out of court.

8. Match of the day

City worker Trevor Luxton emailed friends recounting how he sat watching a football match on television, being fellated by a female friend, while he chatted to his oblivious fiancee on the phone. After the email was leaked he resigned from his firm, his fiancee dumped him and he later claimed that he'd made the whole story up.

9. Penta-gone

Devon schoolgirl Claire McDonald found herself receiving emails