Hanover, Germany - A self-professed Internet "addict" told a court in Germany on Tuesday his employer had no right to fire him even though he ran up $1 000 (about R7 000) in online charges at work.

The civil servant was sacked from his job with the state of Lower Saxony because he spent his work days logging on to porn websites.

"I am an addict and as such am unaccountable for my actions," he told the court. "I need therapy and understanding, not dismissal from my job." - Sapa-dpa