Notorious 'silent man' who stands in busy roads blocking traffic with no explanation is jailed
27.12.2023 - 10:45
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
A man who repeatedly stands in the middle of a busy road, blocking traffic until he is arrested and refuses to speak, has been jailed.
David Hampson has been carrying out the odd behaviour in Wales for more than a decade, but has never revealed the reason behind his actions.
Hampson was jailed for three and a half years in 2021 after a jury decided he was “mute of malice” and not “mute by visitation of God”. He was found guilty of breaking a criminal behaviour order by blocking the road outside Swansea Central police station, Wales Online reports.
After being released from jail, Hampson returned to the road outside the police station, blocking traffic on three occasions. He has been sent back to jail.
The 53-year-old has refused to speak to police, lawyers, court staff, probation officers, magistrates, judges and a psychiatrist throughout the years. Previously, a judge said he believed Hampson’s deliberate silence was the result of "breath-taking arrogance and insolence".
Lucy Mansfield, prosecuting, told Swansea Magistrates Court that on October 17 this year police were alerted to a man who was stopping traffic on Grove Place outside Swansea Central police station. When they went to investigate they found Hampson.
The defendant was taken aside and spoken to but he did not engage with the officers. Police advised him to leave the area but he went straight back into the road and so was arrested.
The following day Hampson appeared before justices charged with obstructing the highway but refused to speak or acknowledge the court and as he did not enter a plea to the charge, a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf. The defendant was bailed pending a trial and left the court building and went back to standing in the road.
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