'Letterman' staffer 'dated extortionist'

Former David Letterman staff member Stephanie Birkitt once dated the man behind the plot to blackmail the US chatshow host.

The 62-year-old talkshow personality went public on his CBS programme on Thursday that he had sexual relationships with several female staffers. He also revealed that an individual attempted to blackmail him for $2m (£1.25m) over the affairs.

Robert Halderman was later named as the person who attempted to extort money from Letterman, while Birkitt, 34, dated the 48 Hours producer just prior to his scheme, the New York Daily News reports.

She is also believed to be one of the women with whom the comedian had confessed to having sex. The former assistant appeared on the show in various costumes and conducted interviews during her tenure on the programme. Letterman often referred to her on-air as 'Monty', 'Smitty' and 'Gunter'.

It was reported earlier that Halderman had pled not guilty in the extortion case.