Twitter Joke Trial auction smashes £10,000 barrier

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com////classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/images/twitter-fail-whale-200-200.jpg"><br /><P>An auction set up to raise money for Paul Chambers, the man charged with sending a threatening message over Twitter, has hit £10,000 – the minimum amount needed for Chambers to make an appeal to the High Court.</P><br /><P>Chambers was fined for his 'offensive' tweet, where he threatened to blow up Robin Hood airport in Doncaster unless it opened up.</P><br /><P>The ridiculousness of the charge spurred the Twitter community to set up a <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23twitterjoketrial">Twitter Joke Trial</A> hashtag that's been supported by a <a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/twitter-joke-trial-sparks-i-am-spartacus-uprising-907709">number of celebrities</A>, including Graham Linehan and Stephen Fry.</P><br /><P>Chambers was <a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/twitter-joke-trial-appeal-comes-back-with-guilty-verdict-907516">found guilty</A> earlier in the month and was given a criminal conviction but he is now going to the High Court to appeal.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Joke's aside</STRONG></P><br /><P>An appeal like this costs thousands, so the Twitter Joke Trial Fund was setup that used auctions to raise money for the Chambers' appeal.</P><br /><P>This auction has now passed the landmark £10,000 barrier.</P><br /><P>The <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/TwJokeTrialFund/status/7896000593133568">Twitter feed</A> says about hitting £10,000: "We're not finished, this was the minimum needed to ensure Paul could even mount an appeal, BUT, we've only gone and bloody done it!!"</P><br /><P>Chambers, who is not party to the auction but has verified the account, <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/pauljchambers/status/7895988115083264">said</A>: "Absolutely unbelievable. "A massive, massive thank you to everyone who donated and involved. I'm off for a cry."</P>

Twitter Joke Trial auction smashes £10,000 barrier

An auction set up to raise money for Paul Chambers, the man charged with sending a threatening message over Twitter, has hit £10,000 – the m...

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