Jailed for son’s balloon tribute

By IRINA NELSON, Crime Reporter

Published: 01 Jul 2011

A DAD has been jailed for displaying 100 balloons outside his son's school on the lad's eighth birthday.

David Hawksworth was caged for three months by Dundee Sheriff Richard Davidson for harassment by making the tribute to the boy he'd been banned from seeing for seven years.

Now English-based Hawksworth's fellow activists at controversial dads' rights group Fathers 4 Justice have vowed to target the lawman's home after he slung him in Perth nick last week.

And they branded Sheriff Richardson racist after he told Hawksworth that he should "clear off back to England".

Last night a spokesman said: "Dave's crime was to place 100 balloons outside his son's school on his eighth birthday after being denied access for many years.

"Activists are targeting and heading to the home of Sheriff Davidson after his racist slur."

The spokesman also said they would shut down roads in Scotland and protest at Blairgowrie Golf Club, Perthshire — but their reasons were not made clear.

Real Fathers For Justice also hit out. Chairman Mike Kelly said: "This father has been lambasted, racially abused and then hung out to dry in prison alongside murderers and rapists. All he wants to be is a father to his kids."

Hawksworth and other activists protested at Dundee Sheriff Court last week at his hearing.

Sheriff Davidson caged him after saying the balloons present was "threatening" behaviour.

Last night a Tory spokesman said: "This seems a bizarre decision. Scottish Sun readers will be left wondering what it is that we don't know that ever led to such a judgment."

Sheriff Davidson refused to comment last night.

Birthday wishes ... dad's banner

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