F4J crusader in rooftop protest at judge's home
Fencing contractor Mr Line, 45, a member of the Fathers 4 Justice group, accidentally disturbed a bee hive during the roof-top protest but escaped without being stung.
Unfurling a large banner concerning his lack of access to his three children, he staged the high-profile protest in the Wiltshire village of Seend, near Devizes, over the weekend.
The village is not only the home of leading family court judge Lord Justice Sir Mathew Thorpe, but is also where Mr Line's estranged wife Mette lives with their three daughters.
Mr Line climbed onto the roof of the detached property at about 5am on Friday and remained there until he descended with the aid of a fireman's body harness at 4.30pm on Saturday.
He was taken to Melksham police station and bailed to appear before magistrates next month after being charged with causing damage to a roof-tile and a hatch.
However, Mr Line, of Hilperton, near Trowbridge, said: "I was extremely careful not to cause any damage at all.
"I told police as soon as I got onto the roof that it would be a peaceful protest and that I wasn't going to cause any trouble. I just wanted to prove a point, which I think I did."
A former member of the Royal Artillery, Mr Line said he chose Friday to clamber on top of the judge's roof as it was exactly a year since he had any contact with his daughters, aged 15, 14 and 12.
A district judge ordered him to have no contact other than write to the girls after hearing evidence that they did not want to see him.
Mr Line said he had written many times but had not received any response and did not know if the girls had received his letters. He said he was disappointed to learn his estranged wife and the girls are currently in Denmark.
Sir Mathew, who presides over family court hearings, was not at home at the time of the protest.
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