A man who was convicted of causing menace, fined £1000 and lost his job because of an apparently innocent joke published on Twitter will appear in the high court on Wednesday.

Paul Chambers,28, who tweeted that he would blow up an airport if it did not open in time for him to use it, will appear in the high court to overturn the criminal conviction against him.

Paul Chambers
Chambers' Twitter account, his number of followers has increased 10 times since his conviction. Credit: IBTimes UK

Chambers, from Doncaster, was hoping to spend a weekend away with his partner, Sarah Tonner, in January 2010, but Robin Hood airport was closed due to snow.

Using the alias @pauljchambers, Chambers tweeted to his 690 followers: "Crap! Robin Hood airport is closed. You've got a week and a bit to get your s**t together otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!"

One week later, Chambers was arrested at work by five police offices, questioned for eight hours, had his computers and phone seized and searched; he was eventually convicted of menace under the Communications Act 2003.

His lawyers claim that Chambers' message was not intended to menace and was "a jest, a joke, a parody," they also believe that the conviction and imposed fine breach Chambers' right to free expression under the European convention on human rights.

Following his conviction, a number of famous Twitter users showed their support for the trainee accountant; Stephen Fry sent a tweet saying he would pay whatever Chambers is fined.

Twitter users took to the social networking site to show their support for Chambers' and freedom of speech; tens of thousands of users re-posted the offending tweet, emphasising the triviality of the message.

Comedians Al Murray and Graham Lineham also showed support for Chambers, offering backing and a fundraising show was staged to fund the Twitter user's defence.

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