Convicted tweeter makes appeal over airport threat

A trainee accountant from Sheffield is appealing his conviction after tweeting a threat to blow Robin Hood Airport 'sky high' following its closure during January's big freeze.

Paul Chambers was frustrated after heavy snow closed the airport and subsequently saw his flight to Ireland cancelled.

Under the 2003 Communications Act, Chambers' message was perceived as having a 'menacing character' which then lead to the police being informed.

Despite the airport not considering the tweet as a threat, police arrested Chambers' at his work before handing out a £1,000 fine.

In a report by the Guardian, Chambers' admitted his actions were 'silly' but felt the police response was 'absurd'. He went on to say:

“I would never have thought, in a thousands years, that any of this would have happened because of a Twitter post. I'm the most mild-mannered guy you could imagine.”

Chambers' case not only highlights the dangers of social broadcast but also the size of audience seemingly meaningless tweets and posts can reach.