Men's Hour

'Superdads' scale Plymouth Court as Fathers Day Disruption looms - Fathers 4 Justice "Desperate dads have had enough"

Protesting fathers will close bridges, roads and railways across the country in the run up to Fathers Day says a dad who has this morning scaled the roof of Plymouth Crown Court.

Just days after Spiderman protestor Dave Chick was cleared of causing a public nuisance in Southwark Crown Court, angry dads from the group Fathers 4 Justice (F4J) have this morning again scaled another court roof, this time in Plymouth, Devon to announce that the Court has been voted the worst in Britain by F4J members for the second year running.

Jolly Stanesby, 35, a registered childminder from Ivybridge, Devon and Gary Swain, 36, a builder from Crewkerne, Somerset are dressed as their children's favourite superheroes Batman and Spiderman respectively.

The protestors say they are planning on staying up for as long in protest at the treatment of fathers by the court. Dave Chick's Tower Bridge protest lasted 6 days last November and caused traffic chaos and just two weeks ago other protestors from the group temporarily closed Worcester Court in a similar protest. Recent demonstrations by the group in Plymouth have seen the Tamar Bridge closed.

Said F4J activist Jolly Stanesby, 'It is nearly 4 weeks to Fathers Day (20th June). On 18th June we will be holding our Fathers Day Civil Rights March in London entitled 'D-Day: Day of the Dad' which many fathers from this area will be attending.'

'It is our intention to escalate our campaign of civil disruption and disobedience combining direct action to undermine the authority of the Family Courts and civil disruption to the transport network to highlight the fact that many fathers will be denied access to their kids by the Family Courts this Fathers Day.

Mr Stanesby went on to say 'As we start our campaign for Fathers Day, many bridges, motorways and railways right across the country are likely to be closed by protests as fathers vent their anger at the government.'

The protests take place as the government prepare to publish a Green Paper in early June about the contact problems facing fathers but F4J say that what is likely to be published in nothing but a sham.

Said F4J Founder Matt O'Connor 'Fathers Day along with Christmas is a difficult time for many fathers who are denied access to their kids by the Family Courts. The government are promising a consultation paper but who needs to be consulted when all courts need to do is to enforce the 50% of all court orders that are broken? A large part of this problem would vanish overnight if the the rule of law was applied properly. Instead good, loving fathers are forced into law breaking by the inaction of the government.'

'Desperate dads have had enough. Whereas in the past they jumped off bridges, now they climb them. It wouldn't surprise us to see further disruption in the coming weeks.'

Spiderman photos - Triumphant on steps of London court with Fathers 4 Justice supporters

See all Photos by Andrew Aitchison

Spiderman NOT GUILTY - Fathers 4 Justice applaud Tower Bridge crane protester - Police used road closures as a bargaining tool - WATCH THIS SPACE!!!

Spiderman NOT GUILTY - Fathers 4 Justice applaud Tower Bridge crane protester - Police used road closures as a bargaining tool - WATCH THIS SPACE!!!

"Common sense verdict" - Dave Chick

From the BBC "'Spiderman' cleared over protest"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3715273.stm

And from the Times "Spiderman protester cleared of causing public nuisance"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1-1110071,00.html

A man dressed as Spiderman whose vigil for fathers' rights atop a 150ft crane triggered traffic chaos was today cleared of causing a public nuisance.

David Chick, who blamed the police for the "unnecessary" disruption that cost businesses an estimated £50m, staged his stunt on a building site near London's Tower Bridge. He was protesting being refused access to his four-year-old daughter.

Police officers, who claimed that he could have fallen fall on pedestrians or cars, promptly halted work on a £45 million office block development and sealed off the surrounding streets.

That rapidly brought gridlock to swathes of the City and east London, with frequent ten-mile traffic jams.

The former window cleaner, who is said to hate heights, refused repeated requests to come down as drivers fumed, workers rang in late and police costs spiralled by £10,000 a day.

Prosecutor Anthony Wilkin had branded the defendant a "maverick" who presented an "unacceptable risk, a danger to the public, an unknown threat" that could not be ignored.

But Mr Chick, a veteran of three similar crane-top protests, insisted that the police had been responsible for the disruption during his latest stunt.

During his trial Mr Chick accused the police of playing a "psychological game" in a bid to make him look like a "reckless idiot" and "turn the public against me".

"The police and the authorities chose to disrupt so many people's lives, which was totally unnecessary," he added.

The jury of five men and seven women at Southwark Crown Court also heard excerpts from police logs making it clear that senior officers not only treated the road closures as a "bargaining tool" to get him to come down, but also worried that the court case against him could be "weakened" if they were lifted.

As the not guilty verdict was announced, Mr Chick grinned broadly while around 20 supporters – mostly men wearing Fathers4Justice t-shirts – cheered and applauded.

Outside court the clearly delighted 37-year-old, who lives with his mother in Burgess Hill, west Sussex, pulled on a Spiderman mask and indulged in several changes of t-shirt. One read: "Police spin version exposed", while another declared: "Family law fails children and dads."

Asked for his reaction he said: "Common-sense verdict."

When someone asked whether he intended to stage another protest his response was equally brief: "Watch this space."

The nine-day trial heard that the father of one and his former partner – who cannot be named for legal reasons – set up a cleaning business and had a daughter during their three-year relationship. But ten months after she was born they separated.

Mr Chick told the jury that despite a subsequent court order allowing him to visit his daughter for two hours every week, the child's mother was less than willing to allow him access and eventually refused altogether.

Increasingly unimpressed by the legal system, he decided to take matters into his own hands and felt that crane-top protests offered the best prospect of drawing attention to his difficulties.

Mr Chick staged 48-hour protests on top of cranes in Victoria in London, Guildford, Surrey and St Katherine's Way near Tower Bridge, but was never charged.

Then, Mr Chick was given a three-month home curfew order after being convicted for harassing his former partner. Just hours after the curfew expired, he returned to St Katherine's Way and climbed a different crane.

Once at the top with eight litres of water, some food, a blanket, toothbrush and "my old granddad's pocket knife," he donned his Spiderman outfit – his daughter's favourite superhero.

JUDGEMENT DAY Tomorrow - Spiderman Tower Bridge Trial Ending - Fathers 4 Justice compared to Suffragettes

JUDGEMENT DAY

Tomorrow is the final day of the trial of Dave `Spiderman' Chick, a man whom spent six days up a crane in a desperate attempt to see his daughter and highlight the plight of thousands of fathers throughout this country. His actions brought unprecedented publicity to the issue of father's rights and catapulted it to the top of the political agenda.

The man who stands in the dock tomorrow will, recognise it or not, someday be labelled as a hero of the father's rights movement, instrumental in changing the law and helping to bring about the downfall of the family `justice' system. Dave Chick has put his liberty on the line not only for himself but for every father who has ever seen the inside of a family court..
Now is the time to show your gratitude. If you cannot do it for Dave then do it for your children. It is not only Dave Chick on trial here but the right to peaceful protest itself, in a society where all our hard-won civil rights are slowly and steadily being eroded by the day.

Friday 14th May is JUDGEMENT DAY. You must make a stand! This is our most high profile trial to date and requires maximum attendance from Fathers4Justice members countrywide. The press and media will be in attendance and whatever the outcome of this historic trial we must show them that we are behind this man en masse! We must show them that F4J is here to stay!

The attendance at the beginning of this trial were low. Since Monday it has steadily grown. Those who have had the privilege to attend have heard how the police steadfastly refused to re-open Tower Bridge despite Dave pleading with them to do so. They have heard how police logs made at the time recorded that they didn't open the bridge as they didn't want to `weaken the prosecution case against him', hoping to put an end to `this type of protest'.

The jury have heard in detail of all F4J protests and their peaceful non-violent nature. They have heard us compared to the Suffragettes and civil rights movements throughout history. Their eyes have been opened to the injustice of family law in this country as Dave recounted how he had spent twenty thousand pound in solicitor's fees prior to his protest and had been back to court over 25 times in 2 years to have his original court order enforced - only to have it reduced! They have been shocked and even moved to tears in learning of the lengths this man went to too see his daughter, exhausting every legal avenue open to him before finally dressing up as Spiderman and climbing a crane. They have heard how judges themselves have begun to speak out against the injustice in family law.

For family law is not only FAILING – it is FALLING. Thanks to Dave Chick and men like him who will risk life and liberty to change this evil system so that you can see your children. But it has not fallen yet. There can be no room for complacency, nor can we afford apathy among our ranks. Without men and women like YOU to hammer on the doors this issue can find itself on the back-burner far faster than it took to ignite.

Tomorrow is judgement day not only for Dave Chick but for all of us. For if he doesn't have the support in court that he deserves then no activist can ever expect it. So do not leave it to someone else. DO NOT think this is not aimed at YOU. It is aimed at each and every one of you, whoever you are, wherever you are and whatever you have done in the past. Take a day off work if you have to. Call in sick if necessary. Wear an F4J t-shirt if you have one. Bring pictures of your children with you. By hook or by crook get yourself down to Southwark Crown Court by 10.00a.m.

Or in the words of John Judge "No excused this time!"

=====================================
the address is:

Southwark Crown Court
1 English Grounds
(off Battlebridge Lane)
Southwark
London SE1 2HU

Link to telephone details
Fax: 020 7522 7300

DX 39913
LONDON BRIDGE SOUTH

The local bus numbers serving the court are
(www.londontransport.co.uk/buses):
8A, 10 , 18 ,21 , 35 ,40, 43 , 44 , 48, 133, 501, 513, 720, P11,
 
Nearest Underground station (www.thetube.com) :London Bridge
Nearest British Rail station (www.railtrack.co.uk) : London Bridge

Spiderman “I’ll continue to fight for my daughter with every last breath in my body” to applause from Fathers 4 Justice supporters – Tower Bridge protest trial draws to a close.

Summing up has begun in the trial of David Chick, the protester who, dressed as Spiderman, climbed a crane last November by Tower Bridge, London. He denies being a public nuisance.

Under questioning the police have agreed they kept the roads closed so as not to weaken the prosecution case. The prosecution maintains that their closing of the road was a precaution to protect the public from anything this unknown person might do. The police however knew both Dave from a previous protest and Fathers 4 Justice from their protests and therefore there was no need to close the roads.

Earlier evidence was heard that Dave had contact with his daughter 4 times a month by a court order. It was defied by his ex-girlfriend. When Dave went back to court about it there was no attempt to enforce the order. A new order was made for contact 2 times a month in the hope that the mother would find this easier to comply with. She defied this order too. In total Dave has been to court 25 times and paid £20,000 ($30,000) trying to get to see his daughter. At one point Dave said “I’ll continue to fight for my daughter with every last breath in my body” which got a round of applause from Fathers 4 Justice supporters in the public gallery and the judge threatened to throw them out if they did it again.

At one point it was thought that Dave wouldn't be getting legal aid. His barrister (expensive lawyer, wears a wig) offered to work for free. However the legal aid issue was resolved.

The BBC has their report on the trial at Crane protester blames the police.

The summing up will probably finish tomorrow (Thursday 13th) and then the jury will decide their verdict.

SHIFT YOUR BACKSIDES PLEASE! - Spiderman - Call for support from Fathers 4 Justice

David Chick aka Spiderman is on trial for causing a public nuisance at 10.00am, Southwark Crown Court, 1 English Grounds (off Battlebridge Lane, Southwark, London SE1 2HU.

The trial is entering it's second week and Dave needs all the support and help he can get. When the end of the trial nears we will need max numbers in attendance to show up - all with pics of your children.

This is our first and most high profile trial and could go stratospheric later this week. Support this brave man by turning up! I will be there on Tuesday.

Nearest tube is London Bridge which is 5 minutes walk away.

Though Dave wasn't a member and his actions were not an 'official' F4J action he is now a member of the group and we are giving him 200% backing.

Max attendance required please both inside AND outside the court. Superhero's in full attire especially welcome as well as supporters in F4J T Shirts in silent protest with pics of their children.

As you know, Dave spent 6 days up the crane at Tower Bridge last year to highlight the desperate situation in the family courts which play a major part in separating over 100 kids a day from their fathers. Dave gave us 6 days up the crane putting his liberty on the line. Please give him at least one days support at court this week.

Court website and Multimap link

Spiderman trial first week complete - Official - The police say Fathers 4 Justice is a peaceful organisation

The first week of the trial of Dave Chick, Spiderman, from the crane protest at the Tower Bridge, London last November has completed. Dave Chick climbed a crane to protest his being stopped from seeing his daughter, and having no right to see her. Because the roads around the crane were closed off to traffic and pedestrians, Dave is accused of being a public nuisance, which can get a jail sentence. The defence has suggested that the police over-reacted by closing the roads. The police have said it was in case he threw anything off the crane or he himself fell off the crane. The police have admitted that Dave's previous protest on a crane was peaceful and had no road closures. The police also agreed that Fathers 4 Justice was a peaceful organisation and that nothing had been thrown from the crane. The case continues next week.

Fathers 4 Justice support Spiderman of the Tower Bridge, London protest - Spiderman "aware of chaos" prosecutor says

Picture from the Tower Bridge Exhibition

From The Sun

Spiderman in happier times

The trial of Dave Chick, Spiderman in the Tower Bridge protest last November is now underway. Although the judge originally was going to ban reporting until after the trial, he has relented and allowed reporting of the trial to date. This is to stop jurors being influenced by the newspapers. All the jurors had heard of the protest, but those who were affected by the protest were removed. The case is expected to continue until next week. The prosecution case has started and the prosecution case appears to be that Dave intended to cause the traffic chaos. Crane protester 'aware of chaos'

Mr Chick remained "indifferent" to the effect his protest was having, the court heard.

This is what the prosecutor says and we will hear the defence part of the case later.

There's a TV report from the protest at Spiderman Tower Bridge Protest ends - Fathers-4-Justice on Channel 5 November 5th. The whole series of articles is at Spiderman Tower Bridge Protest and there's a Photo Album

Meanwhile back at The Sun....Fathers have rights! Fathers should see their children!

Santa

Spiderman

Batman and Robin

We've even had President Bush in London, but apparently that was the real one.

The Sun that once referred to Spiderman as a Nut, has had a change of heart. Following his demo, The Sun was swamped with calls, e-mails and letters from other dads wanting to see their children. Now The Sun would like to hear from anyone else in the position of not seeing their child or not seeing their father. So if you've got a story why not drop them a line.

Spiderman not sent to the Tower, but is going to Crown Court

Spiderman, Dave Chick, is going to Crown Court next year. No date known at the moment. Crown Courts are capable of delivering large punishments, big fines or jail terms. Even if they don't sentence him harshly, the message is that they very much disapprove of Dave's actions.

BBC London News Real Video Go forward to 5m18s into the video
NOTE: This video will be change when the next London news is broadcast, the audio (from the video) will still be there
(Real audio) or here (Windows Audio)

Dave also came second in a London Personality of the year. Roman - Personality of the Year. The winner was the Russian Roman Abramovich who bought the Chelsea soccer team in London. David "Spiderman" Chick got 19%, while Ken Livingstone, (The Mayor who compared Dave to Osama Bin Laden) got 11% (I wonder if that says anything about his re-election chances next year?) and David Blaine got 9% (The magician who sat on a box for 44 days, causing more traffic disruption than Dave, but for no real reason).