Neath Dad in Hunger Strike Threat

South Wales Evening Post by Steve Lisle

A Neath dad is threatening to go on hunger strike to publicise his battle to see his children. Layton Bevan, of Rhodfa Bevan, Cadoxton, has not seen his two sons for three months after his wife took them out shopping and never came back.

His sons, aged two and four, are now living at a secret address in Blackpool.

Mr Bevan said his wife has left with the children seven times before and managed to get a six-month injunction to stop him from seeing them She would leave shouting accusations about domestic violence that were totally untrue, said the mature student I was not allowed to go anywhere near them I've been treated like a criminal and I don't understand why, Mr Bevan has taken her to court five times but on every occasion, his wife has made efforts to reconcile she has then left with the children again.

It has been absolutely terrible and you can't think of anything else," said Mr Bevan. "I gave her money to go to the shops and she never came back I've been thinking about going on hunger strike to show what is going wrong in the courts."

The injunction has now been lifted on Mr Bevan and he is currently taking his wife to court again.

He recently joined campaign group Fathers 4 Justice as he thinks the legal system has failed both him and his children.

I've been fighting for the right to see them for three and a half years," he said.
It's a disgrace and there are thousands of people all over the country suffering as a result of these family courts."

Fathers 4 Justice will demonstrate nationwide on June 13 for more rights for fathers who are denied access to their children after divorce or separation.

South Wales Evening Post

Hunger Strike Threat Dad Reunited with Boys

South Wales Evening Post by Rachael Misstear

A Desperate father who threatened to go on hunger strike as part of a campaign to see his children has been reunited with them after nine months? Layton Bevan, aged 43, lost contact with his two children after his wife walked out of their Neath home, taking his two sons with her.

Having moved to an unknown address in Blackpool, she refused to let him have contact with their sons, aged two and four. Mrs Bevan took out a six-month injunction to stop her estranged husband seeing them. After desperate failed attempts to gain access through the courts, he set up a special action group, which eventually helped him to reunite with his children. Mr Bevan, of Rhodfa Bevan, Cadoxton, set up the group Parents for Protest Wales Cymru this summer and managed to raise the profile of his case both in Wales and in Blackpool. Now, thanks to media pressure, his wife Nicola has agreed to let him see them on an unlimited basis. This week will be the first time the children have seen their father since January and have come to stay with him at his home in Neath.

He said: "This has been the longest nine months of my life and I cannot tell of the relief I feel. I am delighted to be able to see my children here at my home. It has been a heart-wrenching experience and I am glad it is over. Nicola told me that she wished it had never got to this stage and that she hadn't really wanted to stop me from seeing the children.

She said that once she had involved the lawyers they took over and exaggerated claims made against me so that I couldn't have any access to them. Now she has agreed to let me see the children at Christmas, during school holidays and on each of their birthdays.

His sons Harry, aged four, and two-year-old Jake will spend the week with their dad at his home.

The Parents for Protest group is growing in strength and I am trying to help others who have lost access to their children. The legal system offers no justice to fathers and it is a disgrace that there are thousands of people all over the country suffering as a result of family courts. My case should be an inspiration to others and I would tell other people never to give up hope, It is thanks to all the publicity I got, that I am now allowed to spend time with my two wonderful children."

rachael.misstear@swwp.co.uk

South Wales Evening Post