Thursday 21 December 2006

Court rejects ASBO on fathers' rights veteran



Magistrates have refused to grant an Asbo against a serial fathers' rights protestor.
Police wanted the order made against 37-year- old Jolly Stanesby, from Ivybridge, South Devon, a Fathers 4 Justice veteran who has scaled Tamar Bridge dressed as Superman and handcuffed himself to a Government minister to draw attention to his cause. All his protests were against an alleged bias against fathers in family courts.



The anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) application was made specifically to ban Mr Stanesby from going near Judge David Tyzack's home or within ten metres of Exeter Cathedral, two locations where he has staged recent protests.



It was thrown out at Honiton Magistrates Court yesterday, following a day-long hearing.
Police sought the order after Mr Stanesby climbed on to the roof of Judge Tyzack's home in East Devon in November. The court heard that Mr Stanesby believed the judge had unfairly denied him access to his daughter.



Mr Stanesby stayed on the roof for two nights. After he voluntarily came down, he was arrested under suspicion of "trespass and failure to leave land". He was released on police bail without charge until February 5, 2007.



He was also discovered by police, dressed as Father Christmas, near Exeter Cathedral on December 11. Officers believed he was about to scale the building, but he was not arrested.
Marie Macfarlane, senior legal adviser for Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, asked the court to impose the Asbo with immediate effect. She argued that Mr Stanesby was likely to cause alarm or distress to Judge Tyzack and his wife, and to people near the cathedral. She referred to Mr Stanesby's previous protests, which included handcuffing himself to children's minister Margaret Hodge, in November 2004.



Simon Cooper, defending, said the order was not necessary or proportional. He said his client had never been abusive to the judge and although his actions clearly caused distress, they did not warrant an "urgent" Asbo. He said the right to protest peacefully was a cherished British tradition. And he argued that an injunction would have an appropriate way of dealing with any perceived threat.



Magistrate David Jarrett said: "There is no evidence he is likely to commit acts before the next hearing. We do not feel an order would be justified or proportionate. Asbos should be treated with caution; they are not cure-alls and should not be lightly imposed."

Tuesday 12 December 2006

FATHERS DRESS AS SANTAS FOR PROTEST




Campaigners dressed as Santa Claus to stage a festive protest during an Exeter Cathedral carol concert.Eight members of the campaign group Fathers 4 Justice stood outside the landmark building during the Lord Mayor's carol service yesterday.




During the protest, they held placards saying "Put the father back into Christmas".They said the Church of England had failed to speak up about the problem of family breakdown.




Fathers 4 Justice member Jolly Stanesby, 39, who recently climbed onto the roof of a judge's house, attempted to scale the cathedral wall before police grabbed him.But none of the campaigners disrupted the service, which was attended by hundreds of people.




Richard Adams, Fathers 4 Justice co-ordinator for the South West, said: "It went really well and people were very supportive of our cause."A spokesman at the Bishop's office said: "Bishop Michael Langrish has a deep concern, care and passion for the wholeness of family life."

Wednesday 6 December 2006

Shotgun Judge: Dad's Demand Action



Press Release
6th December 2006, 1.30pm

Shotgun Judge: Dad's Demand Action

Campaign group Fathers 4 Justice are demanding to know what if any action Devon and Cornwall Police are taking against West Country Judge David Tyzack after he threatened to shoot an F4J protestor dressed as Father Christmas on his roof last Tuesday 28th November.

F4J Founder Matt OConnor said that Jolly Stanesby Œfeared for his life when Judge Tyzack aimed the weapon at him as he climbed the roof of the Judge¹s house at around 7.30am.

Stanesby has given a formal statement to Police (Crime Reference No KE/06/3812) but believes the matter might be swept under the carpet. Said Stanesby today, A judge is supposed to uphold the law, not break it, or for that matter aim loaded weapons at people. There are glaring inconsistencies in the public statements issued by the Judge, his wife and the Judicial Communications Office that support my case.

Even if the Police accepted at face value the statement that the Judge may have exited the property with the intent to dispatch an Œinjured bird, once it became clear it was a 6ft tall protestor in a bright red Father Christmas outfit, why was it necessary for the judge to load one chamber, cock and aim the gun it at me? I was scared witless.

Why did Mr Tyzack¹s wife describe him as brave if all he was doing was dealing with a small, injured bird? What sort of bird did Mr Tyzack think he was dispatching?

Said Matt O¹Connor, We need the Police to communicate whether the Judge has been interviewed about this offence and whether charges are going to be brought. Nobody should be above the law ­ especially those that enforce it.

We expect to be dealt with firmly by the authorities when we protest and accept the consequences of our actions. Getting shot isnt one of them.


EDITORS NOTES:

*Under Section 16 of the Firearms Act 1968, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life or injure property is an indictable offence that carries a maximum life sentence.

*Under Section 16a of the Firearms Act 1968, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence is an indictable offence that carries a maximum tariff of 10 years.

*Fathers 4 Justice launched it¹s new web site this week at www.fathers-4-justice.org


ENDS

Saturday 2 December 2006

West Country Judge Faces Arrest After Aiming Gun At Santa

Press Release
30th November 2006

A West Country Judge may face arrest after threatening to shoot a Fathers 4 Justice protestor dressed as Father Christmas, who scaled the roof of his home on Tuesday morning.

Fathers 4 Justice say that the protestor, Jolly Stanesby, 35, from Ivybridge, Devon will descend from the roof at approximately 3.30pm today once press and supporters are allowed up to the property by Police.

A spokesperson for the group said that Stanesby Œfeared for his life¹ when Judge Tyzack aimed the weapon at Stanesby when he was on the roof. Stanesby will press charges and his legal team will press for the arrest and questioning of the Judge on the following grounds:

*Under Section 16 of the Firearms Act 1968, that possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life or injure property is an indictable offence that carries a maximum life sentence.

*Under Section 16a of the Firearms Act 1968, that possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence is an indictable offence that carries a maximum tariff of 10 years.

Stanesby will also question whether the Judge has a current licence for the weapon and whether that licence should be revoked.

The spokesman said, ³That there are glaring inconsistencies in the public statements issued by the Judge, his wife and the Judicial Communications Office.

Even if the Police accepted at face value the statement that the Judge may exited the property with the intent to dispatch a injured bird, once it became clear it was Mr Stanesby who is 6ft tall and dressed in a bright red Father Christmas outfit, why was it necessary for the judge to load one chamber, cock and aim the gun it at him causing him to be in fear of his life.

Why did Mr Tyzack¹s wife describe him as brave if all he was doing was dealing with a small, injured bird? What sort of bird did Mr Tyzack think he as dispatching?²

ENDS