Kiss fined for prank calls

Kiss FM has been fined £175,000 following complaints about its former breakfast DJ, Bam Bam.

Imposed by broadcasting regulator Ofcom, it is the largest radio fine in British history.

Ofcom chiefs today accused the station of 'horrible intrusion' after a prank call in which a member of the public thought he was speaking to his employers about redundancy.

Bam Bam's sidekick Streetboy posed as a human resources officer to ring the man, Mr R, to discuss redeployment opportunities.

During the conversation, in which Mr R became audibly distressed, the DJ railed: 'Go and flip burgers or something' and added: 'You're wasting my time.'

Ofcom judged the stunt to be 'the most serious case of unwarranted infringement of privacy' ever heard.

The hoax call was a 'serious offence' but broadcasting it was 'incomprehensible' - and an 'abject failure' of management.

Ofcom imposed a fine of £75,000 with a further £100,000 for offences of inappropriate language, sexual innuendo and aggression during other prank calls.

Bam Bam, real name Peter Pulton, left the London dance station in April after seven years.