'Spider-man' protest over fathers' rights

13 April 2012

A man dressed as Spiderman staged a protest at the top of the London Eye to complain about the state of fathers' rights, a court heard today.

David Chick, 37, of Burgess Hill, West Sussex, scaled the 450ft wheel in a day-long protest on September 11.

He claimed it was meant to be a "peaceful political protest" but it led to the attraction being shut down and disappointment for up to 20,000 paying customers, said Pauline Thompson, prosecuting.

The jury at Inner London Crown Court was told that Chick also unfurled a 15ft long banner reading: "In The Name Of The Children."

Chick denies causing a public nuisance.

In police interviews, he referred officers to a written statement he had made before the climb claiming he had acted in line with his rights under the Human Rights Act.

The demonstration highlighted the emotional child abuse and discrimination by the state which is destroying child/parent relationships, his statement said.

It also read: "I do not believe that the owners of the London Eye, or any members of the public, would regard this act as a nuisance."

Miss Thompson said: "Somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 people had planned to visit the Eye that day. Those people were prevented by this man's actions of their enjoyment of the Eye."

Chick was arrested as soon as he climbed down.

Officers recovered from him a portable radio, climbing harness and rope, a helmet, the Spiderman outfit, chocolate bars, sandwiches and cigarettes.

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