CELEBRITIES and social networking website users have hailed a victory for freedom of speech after a man found guilty of sending a menacing tweet won his challenge against conviction.
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".
He said he tweeted 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.
Yesterday the Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge, sitting with Mr Justice Owen and Mr Justice Griffith Williams, allowed his appeal against a Crown Court judge's decision upholding the conviction.
Broadcaster Stephen Fry immediately took to Twitter to congratulate Mr Chambers and his legal team. The star, who is taking a break from the social networking site, wrote: "Pops head up quickly: complete vindication and victory for Paul Chambers in twitterjoketrial. Well done DavidAllenGreen and team. Bye!"
Comedian Al Murray, who was in court to lend his support, wrote on Twitter " This judgment affected the freedom of speech of 10 million people, not just Paul. That's why it's so important."
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