THE DIRECTOR of a city design company is to make a bizarre attempt to highlight his struggle to see his children by provoking the courts into imprisoning him.

Matthew O'Connor, 33, of Curtain Road, in the City of London, has been in a bitter fight with his former wife Sophie, over rights to see his two youngsters.

Criminal action was brought against Mr O'Connor, the owner of the award winning Catapult company, when he was charged in Bromley Magistrates' Court with harassing his ex-wife.

If he is convicted of the offence, the likelihood is he will be given a conditional discharge.

But when he goes ahead with a campaign called, provisionally, Don't Starve Children of their Parents, using a logo, newspaper advertising, a website and even t-shirts, he may provoke the court into giving him a six-month jail sentence.

In one of four High Court hearings over contact rights, Mr O'Connor was told he could only see his children regularly with his ex-wife's consent, which he says is unfair.

Mr O'Connor said: “It has been absolutely hellish because I just haven't been able to see, my children, not to mention my home.

“I have nothing left to lose but my liberty and I am fully prepared to go to prison to get the right to see my children.”

He added: “If I got a conditional discharge, everything would go back to square one and I would be even less likely to see my children.

“I accept I was a bad husband but I still have a right to see my two children. I've seen them just a few times in the last six months. I am prepared to take whatever action to see my kids as long as it's peaceful and non-violent.”