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Twitter joke man wins appeal

A man found guilty of sending a menacing tweet today has won his High Court appeal against his conviction. Paul Chambers was fined £385 and ordered to pay £600 costs after sending a joke tweet threatening to blow up Robin Hood airport.

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Crown Prosecution Service will not appeal Twitter joke trial decision

It was important that the High Court deliver a judgment on this matter so that both the public and those working in the criminal justice system could be certain of the law regarding the sending of menacing messages. We respect the court’s decision and will not be appealing.

Following our decision to charge Mr Chambers, both the magistrates’ court and the Crown Court, in upholding his conviction, agreed that his message had the potential to cause real concern to members of the public, such as those travelling through the airport during the relevant time. Presenting our case allowed the High Court to hear both sides and reach a fully considered decision. We have noted and accepted the court’s reasoning.

– Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson

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Tweeter's appeal victory in High Court

In November 2010, Crown Court judge Jacqueline Davies, sitting with two magistrates, dismissed Chambers' appeal, saying that the electronic communication was "clearly menacing" and that airport staff were sufficiently concerned to report it.

Today, the Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge, sitting with Mr Justice Owen and Mr Justice Griffith Williams, said:

We have concluded that, on an objective assessment, the decision of the Crown Court that this 'tweet' constituted or included a message of a menacing character was not open to it.

On this basis, the appeal against conviction must be allowed.

Airport tweet man in appeal victory

Paul Chambers, 28, was fined £385 and ordered to pay £600 costs at Doncaster Magistrates' Court in May 2010 after being convicted of sending "a message of a menacing character", contrary to provisions of the 2003 Communications Act.

Chambers has received the backing of a host of celebrity tweeters, including Stephen Fry. Credit: Paul Chambers Twitter

He said 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, and never thought anyone would take his "silly joke" seriously.

It read: "Crap! 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!"

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