According to British tabloid newspaper The Sun, Ian Lawton, an antiques dealer, said it was an “accident”.  He told the newspaper that if he'd noticed he'd have never uploaded the revealing photographs.

Lawton said in mitigation that he believed there are few people who don't watch porn on the interweb.

The advert was up on Ebay for a month until The Sun tipped off the company about the “mistake” when it was immediately whisked off the site.

Later this year the UK government is set to bring in legislation which prevents people from watching porn unless they identify themselves as responsible adults over the age of 18.

In Europe the owl is seen as a symbol of wisdom, but in Hindi the word for owl - "ullu" - means fool.