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Protesters cleared in Hodge case Two cleared in handcuffed MP case
(31 minutes later)
Two fathers' rights protesters who handcuffed former children's minister Margaret Hodge have been cleared of false imprisonment. A fathers' rights campaigner who handcuffed himself to former children's minister Margaret Hodge has been cleared of false imprisonment.
Ms Hodge was ambushed at a Law Society conference at the Lowry Hotel in Salford, Greater Manchester, in 2004. Mrs Hodge was ambushed at a Law Society conference at the Lowry Hotel in Salford, Greater Manchester, in 2004.
The MP was handcuffed for 20 minutes and had to be freed with bolt cutters. The MP was handcuffed for 20 minutes Manchester Crown Court heard.
Jonathan Stanesby, 41, from Ivybridge, Devon, and Jason Hatch, 35, from Cheltenham, were cleared of the charges at Manchester Crown Court. Jonathan Stanesby, 41, from Ivybridge, Devon, was cleared along with Jason Hatch, 35, from Cheltenham, who tried but failed to reach the MP.
Ms Hodge, who is now culture minister, was at the Lowry Hotel on 19 November for a conference called "Battle of the Sexes" and was handcuffed as she took part in a question-and-answer session afterwards. Mrs Hodge, who is now culture minister, had to be freed with bolt cutters.
The minister was at the Lowry Hotel on 19 November for a conference called "Battle of the Sexes".
Jason Hatch thanked the jury after the not guilty verdict was read out
She was handcuffed by Mr Stanesby as she took part in a question-and-answer session afterwards.
Mr Hatch also attempted to handcuff the Cabinet minister and MP for Barking but was blocked from reaching her by Mrs Hodge's assistant private secretary.
Mrs Hodge gave evidence in the trial and described how she was "distressed" by the activists' actions.
The verdicts were met with cheers and applause from Fathers 4 Justice supporters in the public gallery.
The court heard how both men had previously been involved in high-profile protests for the group.
Mr Hatch, who gained notoriety after scaling the walls of Buckingham Palace dressed as Batman, thanked the jury after the not guilty verdict was read out.