The sales of best-selling Chinese rope restraints and satin and lace blindfolds had the bosses of Ann Summers in Ireland smiling last year as the business returned to profit.

A former Ann Summers employee, who claimed she had been publicly accused of trying to steal a French maid’s outfit from the erotica shop, has been awarded €17,000 damages for defamation of character.

THERE it was, hanging titillatingly from its hook, swinging seductively in all its pink two-tone glory, the bunny that made things better.