Sticky time for tax protester

Mr Maddison wanted to "embarrass the Revenue"

A man who became exasperated at delays in payments under the new tax credit system, glued himself to an inquiry desk at a tax office.

Mike Maddison, a former factory worker became unemployed as a result of being unable to afford to drive to work.

He made more than 200 attempts at contacting an inland revenue telephone helpline before going to his local tax office in Bridgwater, Somerset.

After being told there was nothing staff there could do to help, he glued his left hand to a desk and said he would not move until he received payment.

I wanted to embarrass the Revenue and get them to do something for people like me

Mike Maddison

Thirty minutes later, and accompanied by police and paramedics, the 36-year-old left the office with a cheque for £400 - six weeks' worth of credits.

Mr Maddison of Enmore, Somerset, a married man with two daughters aged two and four, told the BBC: "When I realised I was getting nowhere on the phone, I just had enough."

"Sticking my hand to a table is not the sort of thing I do for a hobby."

"I wanted to embarrass the revenue and get them to do something for people like me, said Mr Maddison.

"I think it was well worth doing."

Copycat actions

Police who arrived at the office 15 minutes after Mr Maddison had glued himself to the desk threatened to remove him, still attached, for breaching the peace.

But staff who feared a wave of copycat actions in the wake of adverse publicity, managed to dissuade them.

Mr Maddison finally pulled his hand free after sweat loosened the bond of the glue.

"My hand got quite hot but there were no burns or scarring," he said.

A spokesman for the Inland Revenue, said: "This was an isolated incident but it does happen from time to time.

"Staff were alarmed by the incident."