Silent man who keeps standing in front of traffic convicted for seventh time but still won't say why

A man who constantly causes traffic jams by standing in front of vehicles then says nothing to police officers, court officials or prison staff has been convicted for the seventh time. David Hampson, 45, of Swansea in Wales, began his behaviour in 2014. He was given a conditional discharge for obstructing a highway but immediately went out and obstructed a road in the city again. He was convicted of being a public nuisance and then had more convictions for breaching a criminal behaviour order banning him from obstructing traffic. Swansea Crown Court heard that Hampson was released from prison on July 30 but immediately went out and did the same thing.



James Hartson, prosecuting, said Hampson “draped himself” over the front bonnet of a Royal Mail van on a busy street in Swansea with his arms outstretched and his face pressed against the windscreen, forcing the vehicle to halt. He said: “Car drivers were sounding their horns and some got out to see what was happening as traffic congestion built up.” PC Kevin Roberts, who was called to the scene, said he first suspected Hampson may have been involved in an accident and asked him if he needed help but that he said nothing. He said: “I took him by the arm and led him to the side of the road.” The officer took him to nearby Swansea Central police station where several members of staff recognised Hampson from previous obstruction incidents.

Hampson, who had no defence representative, and who had said nothing to fellow prisoners on remand, court staff or police, was found guilty on Tuesday afternoon of yet again breaching the criminal behaviour order stopping him from obstructing traffic. The jury took around five minutes to come to a unanimous guilty verdict. Earlier, under what is believed to be Victorian legislation, another jury had found Hampson guilty of “mute of malice” which means deliberately being mute. This is different to what the court describes as “mute by visitation of God” which means to be mute because of physical or psychological illness. During that trial, two members of staff who deal with bringing prisoners into court for a private security firm, testified that Hampson had spoken to them. One said he had requested a coffee and the other said he had asked to use a toilet.



Judge Paul Thomas QC is due to sentence Hampson at a later date. He told the jury: “This is an unusual case in that the defendant has, for reasons of his own, chosen not to say anything.” During the trial, Hampson, who was remanded in custody, bowed his head and said nothing when asked by the judge if he wanted to ask questions or say anything to the jury to put his side of the case. After he was found guilty, Hampson, currently of no fixed address, was told by the judge: “If you want to write down the reasons for your actions, for instance if you consider prison to be your home and it’s a case of ‘I haven’t got a home I want to go to prison’ let me know that, or some other reason.” Judge Thomas asked prosecutor Mr Hartson to make inquiries with South Wales Police about the possibility of the defendant being sectioned under the Mental Health Act. He also asked if it would be possible for the court to examine Hampson’s medical records in an attempt “to get to the root of his behaviour”.