No Joker

We have posted somewhat jokingly about the 'Nottingham Joker', aka the criminal thug Damien Hammond before .... 

Hammond As The Nottingham Public See Him

.... he's the career criminal, who regularly dresses up as the Joker character from the Batman comics and films. But the jokes now worn thin.

When last we encountered him, he had been on a crime spree, but as usual the justice system had effectively done nothing to stop him, and he was still racking up offence after offence. So as is the way with these things, the nature of his crimes was getting worse, until on the 30th December, 2019, he finally crossed the line, from violent nuisance, to attempted killer.

Damien Hammond - Nottingham Thug Jailed (Again).

On that date, a council worker, who along with a colleague was picking up an abandoned television from Strelley Road, in Nottingham, that Hammond was responsible for leaving out on the road, when he was struck on the head by a bowling ball thrown from a second-storey window. The ball had been wrapped in a pair of jeans and tossed out by Hammond, who later claimed in court that he thought the two Nottingham City Council workers were "clearing up evidence of me," and that he was just "trying to scare them off".

Crime Scene And Weapon

In court Hammond also claimed that he had been taking the synthetic class B drug Mamba "for three days" prior to the incident, and that he hadn't been able to see the council workers when he tossed the bowling ball out of his window to "scare them off". He also said that he had told the two council workers to go away and leave the TV, but they hadn't, which is when he had grabbed the bowling ball .... although why it was already wrapped in a pair of jeans was not explained, even though that suggests that this done was in preparation for use in this manner, or as a weapon.

Hammond, who was obviously well known to the police, was only apprehended after a two hour stand off, in which he threatened to kill anyone who approached him, and which only ended when Hammond set fire to himself, then lowered himself out of the second story window, and dropped into police arms. He was arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm (for the bowling ball attack), and affray (for the two hour police siege) in connection with the incident (which again seems to be far less a charge, than the attempted murder charge that dropping a bowling ball on to someone's head might appear to warrant).

The council worker he hit, not only suffered a fractured skull and brain damage, but was also told he may suffer seizures and black outs for the rest of his life. He has to wear a card explaining why "his behaviour appears to members of the public to be odd", and his injuries and their effects continue to affect him and his family, and probably will do the rest of his life.

Hammond As His Fellow Prisoners Will See Him ...

In February 2021, Judge James Sampson told Hammond "you are a prolific offender", adding that "Your offences have mainly been of an acquisitive nature, but also including threatening behaviour and a wounding. You are an anti-social, threatening and violent individual, and your behaviour is escalating in terms of seriousness." finishing by saying "You are a volatile individual who will almost certainly offend again, and it would be short-sighted of me if I were not to protect the public. You are dangerous, and you need to be released only when the danger has subsided."

He sentenced him to 16 years imprisonment which comprised of a minimum of 8 years in custody (yep, he will be eligible for release on parole licence at some point), and an extended licence period of four years after the release date. His victim on the other hand has a life of disability to get through .... this makes Hammond's punishment yet again, seem to be rather light. 

One can't help thinking that had the courts reacted more firmly to his threats and use of violence, and the mounting number of criminal acts (he had previously been convicted of 110 offences before December 2019, including theft, violence, wounding, damage to property and public disorder), then maybe his last victim would not have been seriously and permanently injured. 

He will almost certainly return to crime when he gets out, and once again the public will have to put up with his violence until he ruins another families life .... this revolving door justice system should be stopped, but our governments and MP's just refuse to acknowledge the public's desire to have lifestyle, repeat offending criminals locked up for good.