‘Golden glove’ pretender in court Boxer takes prison blow

DANCING around, pretending to be a golden glove boxer and challenging strangers to fight in the street was a sure way to catch the attention of police.

Yesterday in the Townsville Magistrates Court, Dylan Noel Hampton, 33, pleaded guilty to 14 charges including threatening violence, commit public nuisance and possession of dangerous drugs.

The court heard some of the charges had been suspended from proceeding under the Mental Health Act but had recently been given the green light to proceed.

On November 26, 2018, Hampton was in the vicinity of the Australian Hotel and told a member of the public he was a golden glove boxer.

Hampton threatened to knock the man out and “put him to sleep”.

Hampton was at the Oonoonba Hotel dressed in boxing gear and wearing boxing gloves on July 12, 2019.

After being refused a jug of water by the hotel manager, Hampton became aggressive and threatened to fight him.

The court heard in the evening of February 5, 2020, Hampton was at the Australian Hotel when he started yelling at patrons outside.

Hampton asked people what they were looking at while shadow boxing and tried to instigate a fight on the street with bystanders.

The court heard Hampton was found to be in the possession of cannabis by police on July 15, 2019, and January 16 and January 29, 2020.

Police prosecutor Anita Page told the court that Hampton had a seven-page criminal history with prior offences for violence and made reference to his “mental health concerns”.

“Given his age, it doesn’t provide an excuse for him to be misusing drugs knowing that he may have issues and as a result poses a threat to the public with the potential to cause harm,” she said.

Defence solicitor Phil Rennick told the court his client suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, resulting from a violent assault six years ago and was on the disability support pension.

“He has been diagnosed with schizophrenia … and he is medicated on a fortnightly basis with injections of a typical antipsychotic drug which gives him focus and makes him feel wired,” he said.

Magistrate Steven Mosch told Hampton his behaviour was “confronting” and “disturbing”.

Mr Mosch took into account the 85 days pre-sentence custody and sentenced Hampton to 12 months’ jail with immediate parole.

Convictions were recorded.