Silent Road Blocker Jailed Again After Decade of Defiance

A man who has spent over a decade repeatedly blocking traffic outside Swansea Central police station whilst refusing to speak has been sentenced to six months in prison for his latest offences. 🚔

David Hampson, 54, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of two counts of wilfully obstructing the highway after standing in the middle of Grove Place Road on consecutive days in April this year.

The defendant maintains his pattern of complete silence – refusing to engage with police officers, court staff, judges, lawyers, medics and probation staff. He would not even confirm his name and date of birth when he entered the dock at Swansea Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Prosecutor Sam Jenkins told the court that on 8th April, firearms officers escorted Hampson off the road and warned him he would be arrested if he repeated the behaviour. However, front counter staff soon reported him standing in the road again, blocking traffic.

The following day, officers were again called to reports of a man blocking traffic near the junction of Mount Pleasant and De la Beche Street. One sergeant recognised Hampson from the previous day’s incident, but the defendant again refused to engage and was arrested.

District Judge Christopher James said: “It was clear to him that the location the defendant was choosing to obstruct the traffic was selected to attract attention, and he said there was no realistic prospect of rehabilitation and immediate custody was inevitable.”

This continues a pattern dating back to 2014. Hampson has previously been made subject to a criminal behaviour order and has served multiple prison sentences, including 42 months in 2018 and three-and-a-half years in 2022.

Courts have previously held trials to determine whether Hampson is “mute of malice” or “mute by visitation of God” – essentially whether he chooses not to speak or cannot speak due to a condition. Prison officers have testified that he has spoken to them whilst incarcerated, leading juries to conclude he deliberately chooses silence.

A court-appointed psychiatrist concluded that whilst Hampson’s mutism was “selective and deliberate,” there may be social or financial “stresses” contributing to his behaviour, though no psychiatric condition could be diagnosed. ⚖️

Hampson will serve up to half his sentence in custody before being released on licence.