'French Spiderman' Arrested in Britain

Alain Robert pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Oct 26, 2018 2:50 PM CDT
UK Grounds 'French Spiderman'
People watch from inside the building as urban climber dubbed the French Spiderman, Alain Robert scales the outside of Heron Tower building in London on Thursday.   (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

French urban climber Alain Robert has been banned from climbing any building in Britain after scaling one of London's tallest skyscrapers without ropes—and without permission, the AP reports. Robert climbed the 662-foot Heron Tower on Thursday as police cordoned off the building, closed roads, and ushered spectators away. He was arrested after the climb and appeared in a London court on Friday.

Robert pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance and received a 20-week suspended sentence and a $7,000 fine. He was also barred from climbing all buildings in Britain "until further notice." The 56-year-old daredevil, known as "the French Spiderman," has climbed many of the world's tallest structures. Before Thursday's climb, he told reporters "I fully feel alive when my life is at stake." (In another attempt, Robert got halfway to his goal before being stopped. (More France stories.)

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