I’ve kept a record, now 70 strong, of the fictitious human rights claims that have arisen in the media over the last six years. But one five years back, given its source, probably still takes the prize for insanity.

Any sympathy MP Gaurav Sharma may once have had in his run-in with the Labour Party, will now be well and truly shredded.

Imagine being the NZ Herald editor and after a tough week, relaxing on Saturday morning with a coffee and cigar to read his paper.

When I was young one read about the likes of Jack the Ripper, the 19^th century mystery killer of five London East End prostitutes as an extraordinary phenomenon. Also, as a child, my sister and I eager to read the Evening Post, were forbidden until our mother had first “censored” it by occasionally cutting pieces out. Years later we learnt these were reports of a murder.

I suspect most people were happy with the Peter Ellis Supreme Court verdict given some of the alleged victims’ stories were so obviously fantasy. Doubtless they then thought no more about it.