Paul Chambers, found guilty two years ago of sending a menacing tweet, finally had that ruling overturned in the high court today.

Delivering the verdict of a 27 June appeal hearing, the lord chief justice, Lord Judge, along with Mr Justice Owen and Mr Justice Griffith Williams, said: ‘We have concluded that, on an objective assessment, the decision of the crown court that this “tweet” constituted or included a message of a menacing character was not open to it.

‘On this basis, the appeal against conviction must be allowed.’

Chambers’ original tweet said: ‘Crap! Robin Hood airport is closed. You’ve got a week and a bit to get your [LIFTED] together otherwise I’m blowing the airport sky high!!’ It was read by an airport employee, who informed the police, though it was rated as a ‘non-credible’ threat. Chambers was questioned and explained it was a joke.

Despite the jocular nature of the tweet, the fact that it was made under Chambers’ own name, on an account with his photograph on it, and rated as a non-credible threat by airport security, the CPS decided to prosecute. Chambers was convicted and fined £385 and £600 costs. He lost his job as a result of the conviction.