Criminals typically serve their sentences after being convicted of offenses specified in the penal code. However, some individuals end up in prison for unusual reasons that might even perplex a judge. This was the case with David Hampson, a British man recently sentenced to three and a half years in prison. His unusual crime: repeatedly standing in the middle of a busy main road and remaining silent when arrested.
The incident began in December 2020 at precisely 4:45 PM, when police were alerted to a man obstructing traffic on De La Beche Street, just a few meters from Swansea Central Police Station. Officers arrived to find 51-year-old David Hampson standing in the middle of the road, blocking traffic despite the green traffic lights. Vehicles were halted, unable to move due to his presence. The police had no choice but to remove Hampson from the road and initially detained him under mental health laws. After identifying him through his driver’s license, they arrested him for breaking the law, having discovered his criminal record for similar behavior in the same location multiple times since 2014. Each time he was released from court or prison, he returned to the same spot and repeated his actions. During police discussions, Hampson remained completely silent, a behavior that continued the following day when he appeared in Swansea Magistrates’ Court. He did not speak to the police, lawyers, court staff, or the judge, leaving everyone unsure whether his silence was deliberate or due to a speech impairment. The judge decided to remand him in custody pending further proceedings.
Since David Hampson refused to speak when asked to make a confession in court, a plea of not guilty was recorded on his behalf. The case went to trial, where the jury had to decide whether he was guilty of obstructing traffic. Ultimately, they found him guilty, concluding that his silence was intentional.
Following the jury’s verdict, the judge ordered a psychological report on Hampson in hopes of shedding light on his behavior and helping to prevent future incidents. Despite this, Hampson refused to speak to the court-appointed psychiatrist. In response, the court ordered his medical records to be presented to the psychiatrist to provide at least some information for the report. The report indicated that while Hampson’s silence appeared deliberate, it might be due to social and financial pressures contributing to his decision not to speak. The psychiatrist suggested that Hampson be observed in a psychiatric hospital to monitor his condition. Judge Hea Rees commented that while there might be social pressures influencing Hampson’s decision not to talk, he viewed the defendant’s silence as arrogance and rudeness. He warned that if Hampson continued to violate his criminal behavior order, he would inevitably spend more time in prison. The judge ultimately sentenced Hampson to three and a half years in prison, with half of that time to be served in custody and the remainder to be served in community service. During the sentencing, Hampson remained silent and did not respond when asked to confirm his name or if he had anything to say to the court.
David Hampson’s behavior of obstructing traffic began in 2014 when he received fines for four offenses related to traffic obstruction on a highway in the UK. The following year, he was convicted of public nuisance for the same behavior, marking the start of his criminal record. His behavior continued, leading to prison sentences in 2016 and 2017 for violating court orders, and in 2018, he was sentenced to 42 months in prison.
