Rain stops roof protest by fathers

The Fathers 4 Justice protest came to an end today as thunderstorms forced Batman down from the roof of Gloucester County Court. Jason Hatch, who lives in Alstone Mews, Cheltenham, had scaled the building at 4am on Monday dressed as Batman. He unfurled a banner reading: "This court is under new management - Fathers 4 Justice." He was joined by Dave Pyke, who lives in Swindon Village, Cheltenham, as Robin.

Dave came down from the building on Monday afternoon and was arrested and charged.
Jason came down at 1am today after retrieving the banner that had been hung in front of the building.

He was arrested and held for three hours while police searched his house.
They confiscated posters, banners and two air horns.

Jason said: "It was getting a bit dangerous with the rain, thunder and lightning but this was a personal beef with that court because I have been going there for three years and have got nowhere." Both men have been charged with aggravated trespass and bailed to appear at Gloucester police station on August 20.

On Monday campaigners chained up the court buildings as part of demonstrations across the country at Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service offices and court buildings in Gloucester.

A man and a woman were arrested at 11.20am on Monday for allegedly causing criminal damage to the buildings.

Jason said 60 demonstrations took place across the country, including that by Martyn Blackwell and Andrea Hall, who dressed as Catwoman and Batman. The pair protested on the roof of Cafcass in Gloucester, over the Government's Green Paper on family law.