The mystery of Britain's most annoying man: Meet the silent repeat offender who constantly blocks traffic... but WHY does he do it?
David Hampson has been likened to the Chief in the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest because he can talk but refuses to do so.
Hampson loves to challenge authority by standing in a busy road between a police station and a magistrates court.
The balding trouble-maker causes havoc by blocking the busy thoroughfare in the centre of Swansea and has been convicted of obstructing the highway 12 times over the last 10 years.
But the moment he's arrested he clams up and refuses to say a word to the police and the legal team brought in to help him.
Former neighbour John Davies, 56, an ex soldier, of Pontardawe, Swansea, said: 'He can talk, but he doesn't like authority so never says a word to the cops.
'He gives them the silent treatment like the fella in the Cuckoo's Nest - he chooses who he speaks to and when.'
Hampson was caught out when he was heard talking by prison officers after he was jailed for causing an obstruction.
After his release he went straight back to the same spot on De La Beche Street in Swansea to obstruct traffic once again.
His former neighbour said: 'He's a wind-up merchant, he likes to annoy people and then pretend he's mute. But he can speak airtight.
'He likes to play pranks - I remember he nicked the keys from a man's disability scooter. He thought it was a great laugh but it was raining and the poor man was getting soaked.
'We had to get an umbrella for him until Hampson handed over the keys.'
The current occupant of his flat said: 'He got kicked out of this flat about eight years ago. The council boarded it up but he came back and broke in.
'They had to put metal sheets over the windows and doors to stop him getting in.
'I got fed up of getting bills and demands addressed to him, then debt collector started turning up.
'He has the reputation here as the human bollard who can't talk but if you ask me he likes having free board and lodge in prison.'
Swansea Magistrates Court heard the latest offence happened on June 19 this year when Hampson stood in the middle of De La Beche Street outside Swansea Central police station blocking the traffic until he was arrested. From the point of arrest he refused to speak.
After refusing to enter a plea, a 'not guilty' plea was entered on his behalf and he was subsequently convicted at trial of obstructing the highway. The incident happened 28 days after Hampson was sentenced to six months in prison for committing the same offence at the same location.
The defendant remained silent during his appearance at the Crown Court in May 2022 and refused to speak when asked to enter a plea. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.
Before the jurors could decide whether Hampson had obstructed the highway or not, they had to determine whether he was 'mute of malice' or 'mute by visitation of god' - whether he could speak and was choosing not to or whether there was some physical or other issue which was preventing him from speaking.
After hearing evidence from prison officers who said Hampson had spoken to them while he was an inmate at HMP Swansea the jury decided he was mute by malice and he was later convicted of obstructing the road and breaching a criminal behaviour order.
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