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		</div><p><a href="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/man-continues-twitter-charge-appeal.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full" title="Paul Chambers was convicted after writing on Twitter he would like to blow Robin Hood Airport 'sky high'" src="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/min-man-continues-twitter-charge-appeal.jpg" alt="Paul Chambers was convicted after writing on Twitter he would like to blow Robin Hood Airport 'sky high'"/></a></p>
<p>A trainee accountant who was convicted after posting a message on Twitter threatening to blow an airport &#8220;sky high&#8221; has announced that he will challenge his conviction in the High Court.</p>
<p>Paul Chambers, 26, was found guilty of sending a menacing electronic communication at Doncaster Magistrates&#8217; Court in May.</p>
<p>His Tweet, sent in the early hours of January 6, said: &#8220;Crap! Robin Hood Airport is closed. You&#8217;ve got a week and a bit to get your s*** together, otherwise I&#8217;m blowing the airport sky high!&#8221; Chambers claimed he sent the message to his 600 &#8220;followers&#8221; on Twitter in a moment of frustration after nearby Robin Hood Airport was closed by snow.</p>
<p>A district judge ruled the Tweet was &#8220;of a menacing nature in the context of the times in which we live&#8221;, finding Chambers guilty under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003. He was ordered to pay a £385 fine, a £15 victims surcharge and £600 costs</p>
<p>Chambers, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, launched a battle to clear his name over the Tweet, arguing that it was &#8220;an ill-conceived attempt at humour&#8221; rather than a serious threat. His appeal was rejected by Judge Jacqueline Davies at Doncaster Crown Court this month.</p>
<p>The decision was met with dismay by freedom of speech campaigners, including comedian Stephen Fry, who offered to pay Chambers&#8217; fine and legal costs, amounting to nearly £3,600.</p>
<p>Chambers, who now lives in Northern Ireland, said on Twitter that his High Court challenge was &#8220;probably to the detriment of my mental wellbeing&#8221; but that he was &#8220;appealing the decision as best I can&#8221;. He added: &#8220;Thanks for all the support. It was very tempting to draw a line to be honest, took a long time to weigh it up. I feel like I&#8217;m living in a goldfish bowl.&#8221;</p>
<p>Chambers&#8217; decision to continue the appeal against his conviction, which has no date yet but is likely to be early next year, has encouraged others to speak out in support.</p>
<p>Journalist Nick Cohen said it was &#8220;essential&#8221; that Chambers was successful in the High Court. He added: &#8220;The conviction of Paul Chambers shows that the authorities care little about how the internet works, and care even less about freedom of speech.&#8221;</p>
<p>John Kampfner, chief executive of Index on Censorship, which campaigns for freedom of expression, said: &#8220;Paul Chambers&#8217; conviction for a simple joke was a travesty and a prime example of how UK courts actively rule against free expression. Index on Censorship fully supports his appeal and would urge the British public to get behind him.&#8221;</p>
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