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Vitale had also helped run an online prostitution link on the popular American website Craigslist, and had amassed 22 prior convictions, according to the prosecution.

He had pleaded guilty to charges of breaking anti-spam laws, and has also been ordered top pay up £180,000 in compensation to AOL.

"Spamming is serious criminal conduct; this is not a teenager engaging in child's play," said US District Judge Denny Chin at the sentencing.

Vitale was caught striking a deal with a "business partner" to send spam that advertised a computer security program in return for 50 per cent of the company's profits, said prosecutors. The business partner turned out to be a government informant.

Vitale and his accomplice Todd Moeller - who was also sentenced for 27 months last November - had sent e-mails to 1,277,000 AOL subscribers on behalf of the informant.