Twitter joke trial: Paul Chambers wins appeal over Robin Hood airport bomb tweet

Chambers, 27, sent the “bomb threat” tweet after discovering that Robin Hood airport was closed by the snow in January 2010, writing:

"Crap! Robin Hood airport is closed. You've got a week and a bit to get your shit together otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!!"

The tweet was, however, not taken in the spirit of jest Chambers had intended and in May 2010 he was found guilty of sending a "menacing electronic communication".

The Northern Ireland resident has always maintained that he did not believe anyone would take his "silly joke" of a tweet seriously.

Today, lord chief justice, Lord Judge 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."

Judge pointed out that Cambers had not been arrested until nearly a week later when the duty manager responsible for security at Robin Hood Airport, while off duty at home, found his tweet and notified the police.

Chambers’ fist appeal was rejected after the crown court claimed that his “bomb threat tweet” was sufficiently menacing that airport staff were concerned. However Chambers has continued to fight his case and has won support from high-profile figures including comedians Stephen Fry and Al Murray.

On hearing of Chambers’ victory, Fry tweeted: “Pops head up quickly: complete vindication and victory for PaulChambers in #twitterjoketrial. Well done @DavidAllenGreen and team. Bye!”

MP Louise Mensch added her support, tweeting: "CPS owe my constituent @pauljchambers and the country a huge apology for a shameful prosecution that should never have been brought."

Last month, John Cooper QC told the judges it was obvious Chambers’ tweet was a joke and was not sent in the context of terrorism.