In a classic case of do not try this here, a presenter and producer on English rock music station, Kerrang! in Birmingham, have been suspended for breaking into their Program Director’s home and trashing it – all in the name of an on air prank!

Tim Shaw and producer, Greg Pebble, have been suspended indefinitely for the prank, which “…went way far beyond the bounds of acceptable behaviour”.

The pair broke into the house during their show, spray painting obscenities on a wall and causing other extensive damage.

The PD thought he had been the victim of a burglary until the duo jumped out of a cupboard to reveal their ill conceived stunt.

Shaw has since conceded they took it too far: It was funny at the time, but I have been getting grief off my wife ever since then. It was meant to be payback for a previous stunt.

“I just gauged somebody wrong. I gauged somebody as being a prankster, somebody I thought who was on my level doing wind ups and stupid things but, quite obviously, not.”

Shaw and Pebble have been suspended, pending the outcome of an inquiry and legal considerations.

In a statement, Kerrang! 105.2 says it does not “…condone criminal behaviour of any kind from staff or listeners.”

With news of the stunt speading quickly in Australia, promotions’ directors and presenters here might think twice before launching into their next weird/wacky on air promotion.