He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy

He may not be familiar to our cousins abroad but disgraced former UK spy David Shayler has revealed that he is the Messiah. Previously best known as a former MI5 (British Security Service) officer who was prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act after passing documents to the Mail on Sunday newspaper in August 1997.

Shayler called a news conference to reveal more details.

Mr Shayler said: "I am the last incarnation of the Holy Ghost. As the Holy Spirit is God incarnate as essence, I am God incarnated as spirit and man."

Obviously supplying copy to Mail on Sunday means it's characteristic strident tone rubs off on you Richard Littlejohn Shayler said: "It is absolutely clear to me that the world is going to hell in a handcart.
"Few would dispute that humanity needs a Messiah to get it through these difficult times."

Realising his announcement would lead to questions over his sanity, he conceded: "This is all rather embarrassing for someone who was an atheist technocrat three years ago."

Far be it from me to dwell on the stress and paranoia associated with being a member and subsequent enemy of a covert security service, but I'd imagine it's enough to give the most robust psyche a little twinge.

Having spent time first-hand witnessing a range of mental health issues I've always thought that one of the most ironic things about certain nervous breakdowns is that whilst the subject's perception is that the most singular, amazing one-off thing is happening... the list of people who've been there already is most galling - "Oh you're the messiah? Take a seat, you're number 7 tonight"