A University professor came to the rescue when what was to become a landmark album in popular music became mired in a legal case.

The Sex Pistols’ Never Mind the Bollocks celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2012 with the release of a limited edition box set. But back in 1977 the album’s name caused an obscenity row.

Record shop owners were warned they faced prosecution for indecency if they displayed the posters.

In Nottingham, record shop manager Chris Seale ignored warnings to cover up the allegedly offensive word and was taken to court. The case was heard by Nottingham magistrates on 24 November 1977. Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson, who had released the album, employed the QC, the late John Mortimer, to present his case.

Sir Richard recalls: “He (Mortimer) told me that we needed a linguistic adviser, a professor of English who could define the exact meaning of ‘bollocks’ for us. Since the case had been brought in Nottingham I called up Nottingham University. ‘Please can I speak to your professor of linguistics?’, I asked. ‘That would be Professor James Kinsley,’ said the lady on reception.”

Professor Kinsley, the Head of the School of English at the University from 1961 to 1984, agreed to appear as a witness.

Professor Kinsley told the court that the word had been used in records dating back to 1,000 AD and meant ‘small ball’ in Anglo Saxon times. He said it appeared in medieval bibles and veterinary books to describe small things of an appropriate shape. The word was used colloquially for centuries and as a nickname for clergymen who talked ‘nonsense’ in their sermons.

Mortimer made an impassioned plea to the magistrates that we should be proud of our Anglo Saxon heritage and of having a strong and virile language. The magistrates “reluctantly” found Chris Seale not guilty.

Professor Kinsley died in 1984 and his contribution to not only the Department but also the University was recorded by the British Academy in 1988.

The current Head of the School of English, Professor Julie Sanders, said: “The story of Professor Kinsley’s involvement in the Sex Pistols case is wonderful proof that the School of English has a long and proud history of engaging with topical issues through innovative applications of its research.”