It’s over for the ‘Joker’ who put shop staff in fear
HE’S JAILED AND BANNED FROM CITY CENTRE
A HOMELESS man who dressed up as Batman’s nemesis The Joker has been jailed for 22 weeks and banned from the city centre for three years after a string of incidents.
Damien Hammond, 29, obstructed a police officer and was disorderly towards police, shop staff and the public. Hammond committed these crimes despite having been given a 21-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, by magistrates on April 17 for other offences, including theft, possession of an offensive weapon and indecent exposure.
Nottingham Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday that the latest incidents, together with his previous convictions, revealed a course of blatant criminal conduct. The clothes and make-up he wore to look like The Joker had a “sinister, aggravating effect” on his victims.
In a report to the court, Community Protection enforcement officer Jeff Surgay said: “The defendant’s criminal conduct, involving intimidating retail staff and disorderly conduct towards police officers, in one case striking an officer to the forehead whilst obstructing a drugs search, has been conducted over a prolonged period of time.
That, together with him altering his appearance to resemble The Joker appears to be calculated to induce fear into members of the public and retail staff in the city centre.
“His actions had the capacity to endanger retail staff and other innocent parties nearby. It’s clear that action needed to be taken to prevent his continued criminal and anti-social behaviour.”
Magistrates activated 18 weeks of the 21-week suspended sentence and added four weeks for obstructing a police officer.
The court was told Hammond, of no fixed address, had already been banned from the intu Victoria Centre until April 2021.
Inspector Anwaar Ahmed said: “Hammond has been a persistent offender in the city centre and his behaviour has not only caused distress to shop workers and members of the public but has also escalated to him being disorderly and obstructive toward police officers. Despite being offered support from partner agencies and previously being given a second chance by the court, his offending continued.
“It is very rare for someone to be banned from the entire city centre but when necessary, we and our partner agencies will take all steps available to us to prevent this kind of behaviour.”
The new three-year criminal behaviour order bans him from entering the entire city centre, except for when attending court or pre-arranged appointments with a Framework support worker in Friar Lane.
Nottingham city councillor Toby Neal said: “Our officers along with police officers have for a long time been attempting to tackle and challenge this man’s behaviour, while also signposting him towards any support services he may benefit from.”
The court was told the latest incidents included disorderly conduct in Collin Street on October 9; possessing cannabis in Collin Street on October 9; disorderly behaviour toward staff at Shoe Zone, Listergate, on August 23; disorderly conduct toward a police officer in South Parade on August 23; obstructing a police officer in St Peter’s Square on August 15; and disorderly conduct toward store staff at Tesco Express, in Station Street, on August 14.