Father put children in danger

[Junebug39]

Hi all just looking for some advice.

Me and the father of my two boys split nearly 6 years ago now. Since then he's made a lot of daft decisions surrounding them (like not providing them with beds for overnight stays, leaving them with babysitters on his nights, etc). I've always tried to be reasonable and get him to sort things out.
Fast forward to this year.
He's not paid any child support since December but still has them two nights every second weekend. He keeps promising that hes going to find a job but then refuses them. He has a fiancée on a very good income so he can still afford luxuries. Again as annoying as this is, I believe it's important for them to have a good relationship with the boys.
Tonight however he took them an hour's drive away to pick up a van.
He swapped his car for the van and then decided to put our youngest child in the back with no seat. He drove home on the motorway for an hour. He was asked by my son if they could stop at services and was told no in case the police spot them.
Not only is my youngest now extremely upset and shaken by this but I'm feeling gobsmacked that he has put him in danger like this.
He has argued back with my upset by explaining that my youngest wanted to go in the back of the van so he thought he'd be okay.
Am I being unreasonable to deny overnight stays at this point?
I've said he can still come and visit them but I'm not happy for them to go with him as I don't trust him to make correct decisions about their safety.

I don't blame you. What a dickhead.

Personally I think I'd be ringing the police for advice so it's documented if he does the gung ho solicitor thing.

You're not being unreasonable at all!

They're your babies and it's absolutely reasonable to make sure they're only with people who keep them safe.

If someone else (not their dad) had done the same thing, what would your reaction have been?

I would report to the police without delay.
That makes my blood run cold
How could he risk his own child's life like that?

Thanks everyone, I thought it was just me being unreasonable and overprotective!
I just cannot understand what was going through his head

How old are your children?

They're 10 and 8. It was the 8 year old put in the back.

I think you should stop any unsupervised contact as that's the real issue.

The babysitter thing isn't daft, it's just annoying if he only has them 2 days a week.

The van thing is disgusting. How is he planning to transport them from now on if he only has two seats?
I'd say he can see them with you being there to supervise, as you refuse to put your children in danger.

Do not do anything without proper legal advice. Depending on the Dad this could turn into a very expensive shit show very fast.

Legally IMO you would be in the wrong to stop contact without going to court.

Can I ask how tall your 8yr old is, it may not be what you are happy with but if he is 135cm it's not illegal, the law is 12yrs or 135cm after that they must use the normal seat belt.

I first read the post assuming your youngest was maybe 4 or 5.

Does your 8 year old legally need a car seat? How tall is he?

I read this as the back of the van no seat just the back of the van tell me I'm wrong ?

I think the OP means no seats at all rather than no car seat. Just loose in the back.
Awful, reckless behaviour. I think I would contact my community policing team to discussing this and the legality of it. As op said, it’s then on record just incase too.

I think OP means no seat at all. That’s terrible OP. He sounds completely feckless.

Sorry I assumed a double cab type van with back seats as I couldn't have imagined someone being stupid enough to put anyone let alone a child loose in the back of a van!

In that case I would agree with those saying get legal advise on further unsupervised contact