A French stuntman who specializes scaling skyscrapers has been banned climbing any building the UK. Alain Robert, 56, was handed a 20-week prison sentence Friday, suspended two years, for scrambling London's 201-metre Heron Tower. Mr Robert, dubbed "the French Spiderman," was also handed a $7,000 fine disruption and causing a "large scale" emergency response. Hundreds of people stopped the street to watch him climb the building and a number emergency services were called. Using his usual climbing method, Mr Robert ascended the London tower using only his bare hands. He never uses ropes or other safety equipment.
The judge who presided Mr Robert's case told the climber: "You are demonstrably an accomplished climber, but there is always the danger that your actions could be imitated those less proficient, potentially fatal consequences." Another judge described the incident as a "publicity stunt". He pointed that it appeared Robert had been sponsored to climb the building because he was wearing a T-shirt emblazoned the logo of a company. Robert was prepared his arrest. When London Police apprehended him the foot of the tower Thursday, he immediately handed officers his passport and the telephone number his lawyer.
