David Hampson remained silent throughout the hearing at Swansea Crown Court
A MAN who refuses to speak has appeared in court accused of breaching a court order which bans him from standing in the middle of the road stopping traffic.
David Hampson remained silent during the unusual hearing, not even acknowledging the judge or confirming his name or whether he understood the charges — as he has done during numerous previous court appearances in relation to similar matters.
Dyfed Thomas, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that the 45-year-old is alleged to have stood in front of a Royal Mail van outside Swansea Central police station in July this year — breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) stopping him from unnecessarily obstructing the highway in England and Wales.
In April this year Hampson was sentenced to nine months in prison and was made the subject of a CBO for two years after being found guilty of obstructing the public highway at the same spot in the centre of Swansea.
He had remained silent during that trial, as he had done during previous hearings before magistrates.Hampson, of no fixed address, appeared via videolink from Swansea Prison today, but remained silent when the charge was put to him.
A hearing was set for November 20 when the court will attempt to establish whether Hampson can speak and chooses not to, or is in fact unable to speak.
His Honour Judge Huw Davies QC said Hampson — who was unrepresented — would be brought to court in person on that date to take part in the process "in so far as he wants to", adding that the hearing would determine whether the defendant "is mute by choice or because he can be no other".
Matters were adjourned until next month.
The CBO is the replacement for the Criminal Antisocial Behaviour Order, and breaching one carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail.
Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Silent-man-accused-obstructing-highway-centre/story-28013560-detail/story.html#ixzz3p8Ddlfqs
Follow us: @SWEveningPost on Twitter | SWEveningPost on Facebook
No comments:
Post a Comment