Something very strange... when I click on Steph's profile, I get the
message: "this author has been banned".

Steph banned?

As soon as you see "pseudo.borked", ignore it.
Somebody's playing head games on the group.

Since you're using Google, you can click on "More Options" to sometimes see
indicators of a troll.
I know many of them.  Some (indicators) are hidden in the headers, which you
would only see by clicking on "More Options", then ( clicking on) "show original"
opens in a new window (and shows the full headers).
Octanews is a likely - ReadFreeNews (free news service) that Mike Horwath runs;
lots of trolls use that one.

So far, AML guy has used rthe following (on this newsgroup).

"A M L [Manchester England]" <abuse@rochdale.gov.welt>
Swansea West <litigation@swansea.soon.gov.uk>
"Rochdale, Manchester" <rochdale@manchester.gov.uk>
West Swansea <litigation@swansea.soon.gov.uk>
He's asked a question with one, then replied to it, with the other.

In conclusion, if you see a questionable post or questionable header, ignore it.
J