Fry 'prepared for prison' over Twitter 'bomber'

Published Apr 16 2011, 16:41 BST  |  By Daniel Sperling

Stephen Fry has claimed that he is "prepared to go to prison" for defending a 27-year-old convicted for jokingly threatening to blow up an airport on Twitter.

The 53-year-old made the comments at a benefit gig supporting Paul Chambers' appeal against his "menace" charge, which was handed down to him in May 2010 after he wrote on the site about blowing the Robin Hood Airport in Doncaster "sky high" during Winter closures.

According to the BBC, Fry argued that Chambers should not be punished for his barbed sense of humour.

The comedian stated that "This [verdict] must not be allowed to stand in law," and added that he is prepared to face a prison stint over his views "if that's what it takes".

Fry earlier praised on Twitter his "many other friends of free speech, common sense and fair play" at the event.

Other celebrity attendees pledging their support to Chambers included Al Murray, Rufus Hound, Katy Brand and Father Ted writer Graham Linehan.

Fry this week became embroiled in an HIV row on the social networking site with singer George Michael.