A KIDDERMINSTER father who claims to have not seen his children for more than four years has launched a passionate plea for equal parenting rights.

Paul Cook, 46, who is involved in the New Fathers 4 Justice and Human Worth campaign groups, completed the ice bucket challenge in protest against a different cancer – “the cancer of the present family court system” which has separated him from his three sons and one daughter.

Dressed as the real-life superhero Kick-Ass from the 2010 hit film, he used his video to call for changes to the legal process which “destroys lives”.

Mr Cook, a company director of an electrical contracting firm who now lives in Northamptonshire, said through a pre-recorded voiceover on the YouTube clip: “There is a vile cancer stalking the UK.

“This cancer affects thousands upon thousands of families across the UK and our government is unwilling to treat it and instead ensures it is kept a secret.

“It destroys entire families, sometimes instantly, sometimes it takes many years. It destroys children’s childhoods and denies them loving and caring parents.

“This cancer is the secret family law courts and this cancer needs to be eradicated.

“It separates loving and non-violent fathers, mothers and grandparents from their children.

“This cancer still affects my life and my children’s lives and it has destroyed their childhood happiness.

“Today it is me but tomorrow it might be you or your son or daughter, your grandchildren or your unborn child.”

He ended the video with the rallying cry “make a stand today and make the change – let’s kick-ass child abuse out of our family justice system.”

The campaigner grew up in Kidderminster, attending Marlpool First School and King Charles I School, before training as an electrical engineer at Pirelli Construction on the Hoo Farm Industrial Estate.

He has been involved in the fathers’ rights movement since 2011.