Barry Herbert Jessup, 63, fined $50 for climbing up Parliament House for Julian Assange protest

A serial protester — who once tried to arrest John Howard — has been fined over a stunt which a magistrate said presented a ‘danger’ to himself and others. See footage of the incident.

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A serial protester who once tried to perform a citizen’s arrest on John Howard has been convicted and fined $50 after trespassing on the roof of Parliament House.

Barry Herbert Jessup, 63, of Launceston, broke off from a protest at Parliament House in Canberra on November 11, walked up the roof and scaled two fences while making his way onto a veranda, where he unfurled a banner with the slogan “Free Assange”.

Jessup, also known as Eli Jessup, pleaded guilty in the ACT Magistrates Court to trespassing on Commonwealth land.

Barry Jessup climbed on to the roof of Parliament House, Canberra.

Jessup, self represented, told the court he was motivated by civil disobedience and said there was a “humanitarian crisis for Julian Assange”, who is serving a 50-week jail sentence for absconding while on bail by holing up in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London for seven years to avoid extradition to Sweden on sexual assault charges, which have since been dropped.

Special Magistrate Margaret Hunter told Jessup he was not being charged with protesting, but with trespass.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange gestures from the window of a prison van as he is driven into Southwark Crown Court in London. Picture: Daniel Leal-Olivas

1991. Prime Minister Bob Hawke is served with a summons by anti-war protester Barry Jessup, of Launceston, at the ALP Conference in Hobart. Picture: Leigh Winburn

“I understand the reason why the protest was held, but what you did was unlawfully trespass on the building and there as a danger to yourself and others,” she said.

Outside court, Jessup and his supporters celebrated the “bare minimum” fine.

Jessup, an occasionally-employed photographer, told reporters he was inspired by the actions of Mahatma Gandhi.

In 1991, he purported to serve prime minister Bob Hawke with a summons during an anti-Gulf War protest.

Barry "Eli" Jessup. Picture: Supplied

Jessup’s criminal history includes a 12 month good behaviour bond, without conviction, for disorderly conduct after he attempted to perform a citizen’s arrest on prime minister John Howard, who he accused of committing “crimes against humanity”.

He has also been jailed for trafficking cannabis.