Meppershall dad dresses up as court jester in fight to see his daughter
An angry father who has been banned from seeing his teenage daughter for the past 15 years, took drastic action by protesting for fathers' rights on a tower rooftop.
60-year-old Roger Crawford climbed to the top of the Carfax Tower in Oxford where his estranged daughter and wife live, where he dressed up as a court jester and protested against the family court system.
He took part in the protest last Thursday afternoon, along with a another New Fathers 4 Justice member, who dressed up as the Incredible Hulk.
Mr Crawford, of Shefford Road, Meppershall, held a banner over the roof top saying ' Fathers are for life, not just conception' and another with a message to his daughter saying 'Heather' and 'My love for you.'
He told the Chronicle: "I have been through the courts to try to get access to my daughter, but I am allowed no contact with her when I have done nothing wrong.
"The court system really is a compete joke, they seem to punish non-resident parents and that's what they have done to me.
"They have stopped me seeing my daughter for no good reason."
He added: "I am extremely angry with the whole process and I will keep protesting in Oxford in the hope that Heather hears about it and maybe one day will realise how much I care for her and how much I want contact with her.
"But I'm not doing this for me I'm doing this for fathers everywhere. It's just not right how they are treated."
Mr Crawford who has already protested twice in Oxford this year, was denied access to his now 17-year-old daughter Heather, when his relationship broke down.
He carried on seeing her until she was two and half years old, but was denied access after that point by her mother.
He went through the court system, but despite a High Court judge ruling that full access should be given to him, the family court in Oxford denied him any access to Heather.
He added: "Not being allowed contact with Heather has just been awful.
"I would describe the feeling as a living bereavement.
"Of course no parent should ever have to bury a child I understand that must be awful, but it is it similar.
"In some ways it's worse because you know that your child is out there and you're not allowed to contact them.
"I will never give up hope, that's what keeps me going and I know hat there is a powerful bond between a parent and children and that just shouldn't be broken.
"I just hope that one day Heather will realise that as well."
A video of the protest has been posted onto popular website YouTube.
