Cliff Stanford, who founded one of Britain's first consumer ISPs - Demon Internet - and made £30m from its sale, has been charged with conspiracy to blackmail and "interception of communications under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000."

The Telegraph reports: "Mr Stanford, who was charged by officers of the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) at Belgravia police station at 4pm, said: 'I am more astonished than upset and I do not believe any crime has been committed.'"