Girls Aloud blogger appears in court

A man accused of publishing an obscene internet blog about Girls Aloud appeared in court today.

35-year-old Darryn Walker was arrested earlier this year after he allegedly detailed a fantasy concerning the kidnap and murder of the pop group.

He is charged under the Obscene Publications Act, which was previously used against the DH Lawrence book Lady Chatterley's Lover in a 1960 trial.

"This is an extremely important prosecution which has the opportunity to have a chilling effect on the freedom of expression on the internet in the UK," Walker's defence position told the court.

Walker will appear in court again when the trial begins on March 16, 2009.