Lee Turner, member of our Facebook campaign, separately started an online petition for fathers' rights. Below Lee tells the harrowing tale which led him to start the petition and which further highlights the gross unfairness in the UK Legal system.

By Lee Turner

The reason for starting the petition was borne out of complete frustration and dismay at the British legal system.

My ex-wife plans to move abroad with my son. I attempted to discuss this reasonaby with her as it was only meant to be temporary move but I had heard that it will be for at least 5 years as she has married someone from the armed forces. She still has not admitted to it being 5 years only stating that I am being unreasonable.

Who is being unreasonable?
I have discussed this with the army and they have given me more information than my ex wife has. They have also advised that during their time abroad she will spend very little time with her partner as he will be posted elsewhere given his rank. They also felt it may be more reasonable in this instance for her to remain in this country and they will fly her partner home during his leave, which would mean her spending the same time with her partner as she would if she moved abroad. They also advised that given the information I had provided, they felt this may also be in the best interests of my son. Unfortunately, she will not discuss this with me.

However, she did state that I could see my son in the summer holidays, although this is of little or no consolation to me, given the bond that we have and the experiences we share.

I attempted again to discuss this reasoably with my ex wife and go through the options as I was concerned about my relationship with my son, his friends, family and schooling, all of which she could not give me any information about, again only stating that I was being unreasonable.

Fair access?
I began to pursue this via solicitors (6 in all), all of whom told me I had a compelling case and arranged meetings with family solicitors who sit on the panels in court. These again agreed that I had a compelling case and understood the reasons why my son should be able to reside with me, but all of whom advised that in terms of the legal system I would not win as my ex wife was being 'reasonable' giving me 'fair access' during the summer holidays. I was told categorically that I would not be able to prevent my son from going abroad. I also discussed the case with a judge who looked over the information supplied and he also advised that again I had a good case but because I was being offered access then I would not win.

This has cost me financially already and I have been advised I need a minimum of £10,000 to get the case to court with costs rising once I was there (I discussed this with a number of lenders all of whom said I would not be able to raise this money through a loan).

So the reason for the petition........
I have joint parental responsibility. I have joint custody. I take my son to judo twice a week. I take him to basketball every week. I take him to chess club. We go camping whenever we can. We go out for late breakfast on weekends. We discuss and share everything together. I love him with everything that I have and more, but the law says that is not enough. So, I have to give up some of the most important years of his life and I can't tell you how much that hurts and destroys a piece of me every day. Even now, the tears are running down my face typing this,a grown man sitting on his own in front of a computer barely able to see, wondering how the hell I go on knowing I cannot be there for him when he needs or wants me to be. I won't be giving him the bedtime handshake that ends with me grabbing him for a hug and moaning 'dad' at me. He won't be jumping on my bed waking me at some obscene time in the morning. How the hell is someone meant to live without that???

So the petition is stop this, to stop people hurting as much as I am hurting right now, to ensure that fathers are given an equal voice, an equal right, to be heard and to be valued and to be allowed to share the most precious of things; that of the love between father and child. So please sign the petition. Help me take this forward. I am in discussion with a local M.P who hopefully will take this forward. Please stop the pain. Stop the injustice. Help change the law now and let common sense prevail!

[ NOTE: Afer signing the petition, you may be asked to make a donation to IPetitions. This is entirely voluntary. You do not have to make a donation for your signature to be registered. We are not in any way associated with this fundraising.]