Man Fights Yorkshire Airport Twitter Rant Conviction

A man who was found guilty of sending a menacing “tweet'' about a South Yorkshire airport is set to challenge his conviction at the High Court.

27 year old Paul Chambers, is taking his appeal to the High court after a judge threw out his original appeal at Doncaster Crown Court in October 2010.

His argument was that no-one would ever take it seriously that he wanted to blow an airport “sky high”.

The message read: “C***! Robin Hood Airport is closed. You've got a week and a bit to get your s*** together, otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!”

But, Judge Jacqueline Davies, sitting with two magistrates, said the tweet was “clearly menacing” and that airport staff were so worried they reported it.

She added: “We find it impossible to accept that anyone living in this country, in the current climate of terrorist threats, would not be aware of the consequences of their actions in making such a statement.”

Chambers who is an accountant, was ordered to pay a £385 fine.

He claims he sent the tweet to his 600 “followers' in a moment of frustration after Robin Hood Airport in South Yorkshire was closed by snow in January 2010.

The case has now become a highly trended topic on Twitter, with hundreds of people mentioning the hearing.

Law blogger Charonqc said: “A day for justice and common sense - hopefully.'”

Another Twitter user, socialPolly, said: “Airport weren't fussed, police laughed; so the CPS charged him under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.”

Another tweeter, samsharpie, said: “Come on common sense, time to show yourself today.... Good luck.”