Bishop arrested over photo of children on roof..

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A bishop has set up a website in protest at being arrested after putting his two sons on top of the chimney of his home.

The Most Reverend Jonathan Blake, 52, an archbishop in the Open Episcopal Church, was arrested after neighbours complained he had put his two young boys up the chimney.

The father-of-five insisted the children were safe, and taking part in a school challenge for book week - reading a book in an unusual place.

Nathan, eight, and Dominic, seven, were spotted perched one at a time on the chimney stack of their family home, reading a book.

Neighbours called the police. He was arrested for child neglect.

"I didn't see it as unsafe because the boys are used to climbing," Mr Blake said afterwards.

"The kids were up there for about 10 minutes each as I took different pictures. I didn't think it would cause such a fuss."

Mr Blake claims he was punched in the back by a police officer and handcuffed "viciously tight".

"I have always been a great supporter of the police, but this nightmarish experience has shattered my trust in the police and their system of detention."

His wife, Annette, 49, who rushed to his aid after hearing his calls for help, was not allowed to video his arrest.

Mr Blake then claims he was kept in police custody without food or water for several hours and was not interviewed until 1pm the following day.

He was released on police bail and has since been told no charges are to be brought.

But the bishop is going to pursue a complaint and sue for false arrest, false imprisonment, assault and injury.

He hopes his website will encourage others to protest.
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What a cool dad!

my dad...
me: Daaaaad, can I sit on the roof?
dad: no!
me: pleaaase!
dad: no, you could fall off.

bishop dad...
kids: Daaaaad, can we sit on the roof?
bish: Why of course! I'll get the camera.
:lol:

I suppose if they are trustworthy and sensible kids I don't see it being a big problem but there is always the chance of an accident.
 
Col_M said:
What a cool dad!

my dad...
me: Daaaaad, can I sit on the roof?
dad: no!
me: pleaaase!
dad: no, you could fall off.

bishop dad...
kids: Daaaaad, can we sit on the roof?
bish: Why of course! I'll get the camera.
:lol:

I suppose if they are trustworthy and sensible kids I don't see it being a big problem but there is always the chance of an accident.
Click to expand...

I have the opposite problem. I'll pop round to visit my parents and find my 75-year old father up on the roof, faffing around with a loose tile or something equally silly :lol:
 
its probably a flat roof. staircase onto the roof, and a four foot high chimney.
they manage not to show any photgraphs that give you any idea of hight.
popped round to my 76 year old father in laws recently.
found him 20 feet up a tree on his garden. sawing branches off.
 
inaneredstripe said:
its probably a flat roof. staircase onto the roof, and a four foot high chimney.
Click to expand...
Try this one then,
_45472011_006867554-1.jpg
 
Is this a case of "bashing the bishop" ?
 
I thought I would see if I could find his website but came across this - strange how the Daily Mail can make a chimney grow 5' in two days !!

#
Archbishop who forced sons onto 40ft-high chimney for photo is ...
11 Feb 2009 ... Neighbours called police after Jonathan Blake, the presiding archbishop of the Open Episcopal Church, placed his two sons on the chimney of ...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11...igh-chimney-photo-arrested-child-neglect.html - Similar pages -
#
Archbishop who forced sons on to 45ft-high chimney for photo is ...
13 Feb 2009 ... Archbishop Jonathan Blake was arrested for what police described as a ... Why would you ever dream of putting your kid on the chimney?' ...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11...igh-chimney-photo-arrested-child-neglect.html - 7 hours ago - Similar pages -
More results from www.dailymail.co.uk »
 
His wife, Annette, 49, who rushed to his aid after hearing his calls for help, was not allowed to video his arrest.
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He is calling for help because they are huirting him and she rushed to his aid with a video camera?

I smell a rat :)
 
I must admit it would be good to hear both sides of this story which has obviously been sensationalised by the media (just for a change).

For starters, if the second picture is the house then I am not surprised someone called the police, to allow and encourage seven and eight year olds to climb onto a roof such as is shown is negligent bordering on plain stupid. As to what happened when the police arrived only they know but I find it hard to imagine any police officer in this day and age carrying out an unprovoked assault on a member of the clergy. Was he resisting arrest and had to be restrained with handcuffs? I know what my views are.

The man is a **** and should be looking at his own actions instead of complaining.
 
Well here is his Blog ;) Not had chance to read it myself, but it looks like he's been giving his side on there.
 
The Most Reverend Jonathan Blake, 52, an archbishop in the Open Episcopal Church, was arrested after neighbours complained he had put his two young boys up the chimney.
Click to expand...

hmmm :thinking:

anyway, it seems the kids were harnessed and are experienced climbers.....still I think I would be having kittens if it was my daughter up there.....
 
The Most Reverend Jonathan Blake, 52, an archbishop in the Open Episcopal Church, was arrested after neighbours complained he had put his two young boys up the chimney.
Click to expand...

When I first read that I though that he had sent them up there to sweep said chimney
just like the Victorians that would have been OK though surely :shrug: :D
 
You mean we cant send them up the chimney no more ?, when did this happen ? ... :thinking:


*note to Sky Photographer* The Chimney sweep idea loses it a little for me with
the inclusion of the telephone cable and UHF aerial, could you not have cloned
these out ?....
 
"Forced", says the daily hate.

article-1142382-037A850B000005DC-944_468x326.jpg


Yeah, that's a face of a boy who was forced, kicking and screaming, on the roof on his house.
 
Should be entitled "waiting for Santa" :shrug:
(subtitle "but its a bit too friggin early so I wil just read my book 'till he appears" :thumbs:)
 
Having spent years working on and around chimneys I can tell you that it's not a place you want mess around on. Chimneys are rarely very strong and the older they are the weaker they are, you can see from that picture that there are loose bricks in the corner nearest the camera, I've seen chimneys that are literally held together by the tv aerial lashing kit. Add to that the central heating vents behind the kid that can put out noxious fumes including carbon monoxide, it was a stupid thoughtless thing to do.
 
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