10:40 - 02 July 2007
Campaigners for a father jailed for failing to make child support payments have staged a protest outside Bristol prison.Michael Cox, a barrister for Fathers4Justice, was sentenced to 42 days in jail despite arguing he should not have to pay child support because he looked after his children for half the week.
About 60 people gathered outside the prison in Cambridge Road, Horfield, to protest for his release.Nigel Ace, a spokesman for the fathers' rights group, said at one point the protesters stormed the prison entrance.
He said: "The protest today was a show of solidarity. We actually stormed the prison, got into reception, but couldn't get any further."So we stayed there and shouted "free Michael", before going round to his window on the other side of the building, where he shouted down to us."The father-of-five was jailed by magistrates in Southampton, where he lives.
It is understood Cox's son Matthew, 13, was among those protesting .Mr Cox has joint custody of his sons, he argued that because he pays for his children when he's caring for them he shouldn't be treated as an absent father by the Child Support Agency. But he was jailed for failing to pay £46,000 he owed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUg6PZ3tfDU
In court Mr Cox's ex-wife, Lesley Peach, begged magistrates not to jail him, arguing that she would not be able to work without Cox looking after their children.
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