DJ suspended after sending listener sleazy emails

Oct 4 2009 by Sophie Doughty, Sunday Sun

A TOP North Radio DJ has been suspended after sending a string of sleazy emails to a listener.

Daytime presenter Mark Thorburn even invited himself around to the woman’s home for sex in a steamy exchange of messages fired off from his work email address as thousands of listeners tuned into his show last week.

Today the married 41-year-old dad told of his shame and begged for forgiveness from his family.

After the Sunday Sun uncovered the emails he was suspended from his lunchtime show at Metro Radio.

The 27-year-old listener, who does not want to be named, had contacted the DJ, using his Metro Radio address, to request a song.

But after Thorburn made a number of suggestive replies the exchange soon escalated into a steamy conversation, during which Thorburn, who less than two months ago was arrested for assaulting his wife, makes a number of sexual references.

In a personal statement to the Sunday Sun, the shamed presenter has today apologised to his wife, Lesley-Ann.

“I have behaved in an extremely foolish way which I deeply regret,” he said. “I realise that my actions have caused extreme embarrassment to my wife and family in particular, and also to my colleagues at work.

“The email exchange that afternoon with a lady, who is totally unknown to me and with whom I have had no correspondence since, was highly inappropriate, and I can offer no excuse; I should not have entered into this protracted juvenile exchange.

“I realise the pain that this has caused especially to my wife for, which I am deeply, deeply sorry.”

The conversation that could spell the end of Thorburn’s 20-year radio career began at lunchtime on Monday, September 21.

As the conversation became more and more flirtatious Thorburn writes: “I am being cheeky and naughty and all other kinds of things that I really shouldn’t be . . . do you object?”

The woman confesses to Thorburn that she has a partner, but their online chat continues.

When she asked the DJ if he is single, Thorburn replies with: “Sadly not . . . but I like the way this is going . . . naughty is so much fun.”