An unrepentant bookmaker has provoked outrage - and a record number of complaints - with an advert encouraging people to bet on the outcome of the Oscar Pistorius murder trial. 

Paralympic gold medalist Pistorius is on trial in South Africa for the murder of his girlfriend, model and reality TV star Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius shot Steenkamp through the bathroom door of his home on Valentine's day last year, but claims he thought she was an intruder. And like any right-thinking business, Paddy Power has capitalised on Steenkamp's death with an advertising campaign offering gamblers their money back if Pistorius is found not guilty.
 

Odds of Paddy Power getting on Oscar's Christmas card list: 1:1,000,000

Within a week over 120,000 people signed a petition demanding a halt to the campaign and for any money raised to be donated to groups which tackle violence against women. The Advertising Standards Authority has received so many complaints (a record 5,200) that it has taken the unusual step of ordering Paddy Power to pull the ad. Which the bookie will chalk up as a victory, having frequently aimed for the headlines with risqué ads. Past efforts have included posters depicting scousers betting on Margaret Thatcher's death and, for the rugby World Cup, English lions rogering kangaroos.

Earlier this week a Paddy Power spokesman (who, in an ingenious stunt, has changed his name to Paddy Power) said the company had no intention of stopping the advert. "It is like OJ Simpson on steroids", he said, giving everyone another reason to take offence. "People are talking about it and that is why we are offering odds on it".