Man who posted Twitter threat to blow up airport may face jail

Martin Slack

A MAN who posted an internet message threatening to blow a Yorkshire airport “sky high” has been warned he could face a prison sentence.

Paul Chambers made his threat on social networking website Twitter after Robin Hood Airport near Doncaster announced it was having to shut following heavy snowfall.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 26-year-old, who had planned to fly out from Robin Hood Airport to Ireland on Friday, January 15, put the message on the web on January 6, but later said it was a joke.

Doncaster magistrates heard yesterday that the message read: “Crap! Robin Hood Airport is closed. You’ve got a week and a bit to get your s*** together otherwise I’m blowing the airport sky high!!”

Chambers, of Byram Court, Balby, Doncaster, appeared in court accompanied by family members yesterday and spoke only to confirm his name and address and make his guilty plea.

The court was told he was arrested after police were alerted to the message a few days later.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was charged under the Communications Act 2003 with sending, by means of an electronic communications network, a message that was grossly offensive, or of an indecent obscene or menacing character.

Rob Desira, prosecuting, told district judge Jonathan Bennett: “The message was posted on the social networking site Twitter, which is open to the public without any subscription.

“He admitted posting the message but never expected the airport to take it seriously. The message was picked up as a result of routine observations, and reported to the police.”

Mr Desira said the message had no impact on the operation of the airport, apart from the “obvious expense and time taken for an investigation to be carried out” into the incident.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Chambers is thought to be the first person in Britain to be prosecuted for posting a message on Twitter and claimed following his arrest that his laptop and home computer were confiscated.

His Twitter page was still active yesterday, although Chambers has now “protected” his postings, known as Tweets. On his profile he describes himself as a “film-watching, football-loving, rubbish-talking, hyphen-using idiot”.

The number of people following the financial supervisor’s posts rocketed after his arrest, and more than 800 people are signed up to keep track of his page at present.

Robin Hood Airport, which is run by Manchester-based Peel Airports, was initially said to have banned Chambers from the site, but the company later claimed that was not the case.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Yesterday airport director Mike Morton said: “Any threat against airports and those that use them is always taken seriously. The safety of our passengers and staff is of the highest importance to us and we work closely with South Yorkshire Police to make sure that any kind of unacceptable behaviour is dealt with immediately.”

A spokesman from South Yorkshire Police added: “We advise people to use social networking websites appropriately as they are easily accessible to the public and any inappropriate use could cause unnecessary concern and lead to comments being reported to police.

“The force takes misuse of such sites seriously and will act robustly to deal with those who choose to use them in such a way as to cause alarm and distress to members of the public.”

Human rights experts have criticised the police and airport for taking such serious action over what many people would see as a joke, one campaigner describing their actions as “laughable”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But yesterday, Mr Bennett, the district judge told Chambers the situation was very serious and added: “I will give you credit, you have pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

“But you have not previously appeared in court so it is essential that reports are written on your case. All sentencing options, including custody, are available.”

The case was adjourned until March 12.