Fathers 4 Justice Batman dad 'would repeat M25 stunt'

By Clare Alexander September 11, 2009

A FATHERS 4 Justice dad from Farnborough who was jailed after climbing an M25 gantry in a protest over access to his daughter has said prison was no deterrent.family court

Geoffrey Hibbert, who dressed up as Batman for the stunt at junction 14 near Stanwell on August 15 last year, said he would do it again if he had to.

He was released from Wormwood Scrubs prison on September 3 after serving almost half of his six-month sentence.

The 49-year-old father, from Clayton Road, was sentenced in July after being convicted by jurors of one count of causing a public nuisance and a second of endangering motorists.

Mr Hibbert clambered to the top of the gantry, causing police to close off 12 lanes of the motorway while he protested against his treatment at the hands of the family courts.

He said: “Wormwood Scrubs was all right. It was not a deterrent.”

Mr Hibbert added he had 100% support from the other inmates.

“I was a cleaner in there. I was cleaning the landing outside the cells every day. I enjoyed it. It kept me active and I met a lot of new people, like loads of fathers who are going through the same scenario as me.”

Mr Hibbert described how he felt when the judge announced his sentence.

“I thought they were making a scapegoat of me and thought it was political,” he said.

Worth it

The desperate father said he had not seen his daughter since August 2007 and added that enduring prison was a price worth paying.

While he has no intention of protesting again, he said: “I would be prepared to do it again if I had to, yes. All children have the right to see both parents.

“The family courts are biased against mothers and fathers.

“There are women out there in the same situation as me. The judge should sit in a room with the children [and the parents].”

Mr Hibbert said he dressed up as a comic book hero for his daughter.

“She likes Batman and Spiderman so it was a choice between the two. I did it for her. I did it for all the children in this world.”

He said he chose that particular place to climb the motorway so he could raise awareness in front of as many people as possible.

Mr Hibbert dismissed claims made during the trial that people could have been hurt, insisting he had been in complete control.

“The gantry is bigger than it looks,” he said.

A friend drove him to the motorway, and he said: "I felt nervous on the journey to the M25 but I did it for the children and they are worth everything.

“I had lots of support from the drivers. They were taking photographs shouting to me.”

Global support

Browsers logging on to the Get Hampshire website have expressed their sympathy for Mr Hibbert.

Support for his cause has continued since and people across the globe have heard about his antics.

“Everyone who’s seen me has shaken my hand. When I was inside I had letters from Canada, Poland and Australia,” Mr Hibbert said.

“I feel proud. There’s even things on YouTube about me. People are going through so much trouble with children and it’s wrong.

“The courts need to listen to what the children have to say.

“My daughter is the most special thing in the world.”

http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2057091_fathers_4_justice_batman_dad_would_repeat_m25_stunt

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Father 4 Justice stage 'Guatanamo-style' protest

July 21, 2009

By David Baker

CIVIL rights campaigners Fathers 4 Justice descended on Harrow Crown Court last week posing as Guantanamo Bay prisoners - dressed in orange boiler suits with sacks over their heads.

The protesters, who champion the rights of dads in family courts, held up a sign saying 'separated dad or terrorist – both treated the same'.

They were at the court based in Hailsham Drive on Thursday last week to support a former member of the group who was handed a six month prison sentence.

Geoffrey Hibbert, 49, from Hampshire, was ordered in front of a jury after he clambered to the top of an overhead sign and unravelled banners on the M25, forcing police to close off 12 lanes on the busy motorway.

The desperate dad spent more than eight hours dangling from the sign at junction 14, near neighbouring borough Hillingdon, causing tailbacks of up to 55 miles long.

Despite claiming his actions were not dangerous and were part of a legitimate right to protest, the estranged parent was convicted of one count of causing a public nuisance and a second of endangering motorists, following a trial.

The court was told that more than £14,000 pounds of taxpayers' cash was spent on emergency services during the protest and an estimated £580,000 pounds was lost to businesses effected by the closure of the motorway.

However, spokesman Richard West, from New Fathers for Justice, said: "This trial has been a complete sham from start to finish.

"The sole motivation is political. Mr Hibbert has been made a scapegoat and in the own judge's words, sentenced to deter others."

However friends and family of the defendant criticised the activists for encouraging him to stage the protest and then "leaving him to rot."

Nephew Paul Morrison, 35, said: "Fathers for Justice was a bad influence and took advantage of him. They gave him bad advice and once he had given them publicity they left him to rot."

A tight security presence had been laid on at the hearing with members of the public issued passes to get into the court and a number of policeman sat in and outside the courtroom to deter further protests.

However, once police had left the scene around nine campaigners changed into the boiler suits before waving banners outside the court.

http://www.harrowobserver.co.uk/west-london-news/local-harrow-news/2009/07/21/father-4-justice-stage-guatanamo-style-protest-116451-24203975/

Appeal bid as Fathers 4 Justice man awaits sentencing

By Clare Alexander
July 14, 2009

LAWYERS representing the Fathers 4 Justice protester who brought the M25 in Surrey to a standstill have lodged an appeal against his conviction.

Geoffrey Hibbert, from Farnborough, is due to be sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on Thursday.

He was remanded in custody last month after being found guilty of causing a public nuisance and endangering motorists.

The desperate father, of Clayton Road, spent more than eight hours dressed as Batman at junction 14 of the motorway near Stanwell, causing tailbacks stretching back for 55 miles on August 15 last year.

Fathers 4 Justice launched a petition after the 49-year-old was remanded in custody in June. It has been signed by 67 people.

Members of the campaign group, which lobbies for better child access rights for fathers, are expected to be in the public gallery at Thursday’s hearing but, at the request of Hibbert's family, have agreed not to protest.

Appeal

Hibbert was also said to have ended his hunger strike at Wormwood Scrubs on Monday. Fathers 4 Justice claimed he had only been accepting fluids at the prison.

A spokeswoman for Hibbert’s solicitors, Jung & Co, confirmed they had lodged an appeal against his conviction, which will not be heard until after he is sentenced.

If the appeal was successful, the spokeswoman said they would then appeal against the sentence.

Ron Reid, Hibbert’s best friend, said: "I can’t believe it has come to this. Geoff has been my best friend for 24 years and I have never seen him so broken. All he wants to do is see his daughter.”

http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2054101_appeal_bid_as_fathers_4_justice_man_awaits_sentencing

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2054101_appeal_bid_as_fathers_4_justice_man_awaits_sentencing

M25 Batman on Day 21 of hunger strike in prison

Contact: Kris Titus Phone: 1-888-345-2262 ext.703 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 9, 2009

For Immediate Release July 9, 2009 Starved for Justice M25 Batman on Day 21 of hunger strike in prison The Global Battle for equal rights. F4J Fathers 4 Justice activist, Geoff Hibbert, has literally put his life and his freedom on the line to raise awareness of discriminate family courts. Geoff Hibbert, aka M25 Batman, will face sentencing on July 16th. Geoff has been held in custody pending his sentencing and is now on the 21st day of a hunger strike after being convicted by a Jury after police halted traffic on the M25 highway for many hours, he faces the possibility of a 7 year sentence. "People in family court are literally starved for justice. People who have never gone through the family courts have a hard time believing they are unequal and unjust, but that's exactly what they are!" laments Kris Titus, National Coordinator, F4J Fathers 4 Justice Canada, who also faces trial for non-violent direct action in Canada. Don Tenn, National Coordinator of F4J US says, "The US branch of F4J supports Geoff in his efforts! Of course we also want Geoff to know that he is not alone, we are thinking of him and wish to say, "Thank You" for his sacrifice for OUR children." Mr. Tenn also awaits trial for non-violent direct actions stemming from an 80 hour stay atop a tower crane in Ohio. Both organizations hope that Mr. Hibbert's incredible sacrifice will not go unnoticed and be for naught. It is when people decide to take to the air that these issues get noticed. It's a really sad state of affairs when regular moms and dads have to go to extremes like these to be heard on an issue affecting millions of parents and children worldwide. F4J Canada has set up a superhero write-in campaign to support heros like Geoff in prison or facing trials. "We just pray he lives long enough to see the positive affects of his action. Geoff's 21 day hunger strike has affected F4J members worldwide. He is a testament to the endless lengths a father will go to love his children. We honor him, as it should be," ends Titus. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTACT: Canada National Coordinator, Kris Titus 1-888-345-2262 ext. 703 US National Coordinator, Don Tenn 614.448.3276 National Website for more information about F4J Fathers 4 Justice Canada Canada: www.f4jcanada.ca National Action website: www.f4jcanada.com National Website for information about F4J US: www.f4j.us

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