A man who became locally famous for walking the streets of Nottingham dressed as the Joker has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for dropping a bowling ball on a council worker's head, leaving his victim with life-changing brain damage.
Damien Hammond was under the influence of drug Black Mamba - an artificial cannabinoid similar to Spice - at the time of the incident.
The council worker was picking up a discarded TV from the street when Hammond dropped the bowling ball wrapped in a pair of jeans from a height of 14 feet from a window.
He'd shouted to the worker that he wanted the television, but then dropped the bowling ball as he picked it up.
A jury at Nottingham Crown Court found the 31-year-old guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and Judge James Sampson ordered him to serve 16 years in prison.
In sentencing, Judge Sampson called Hammond's crime a 'wicked act' and added: "You are a volatile individual who will almost certainly offend again."
He continued: "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."
The attack, which took place on 30 December 2019, left the worker with a brain haemorrhage as well as a fractured skull.
Hammond then engaged in a two-hour long confrontation with the police during which he threatened to kill anyone who attempted to enter his flat.
He was eventually arrested, but not before he set himself on fire and jumped out of the window of the property.
Prosecutors told the court that Hammond, who has a recorded history of mental illness, committed 110 other offences over the past 19 years, dating back to when he was only 12 years of age.
He has also served a previous sentence of 12 months in prison for wounding in 2016.
A statement released by Detective Constable Sarah Gregg of Nottinghamshire Police said: "Evidence proved that when he dropped the heavy bowling ball from his first-floor window, he was fully aware that the council workers were under the window and he intended to hurt one of them.
"I would like to pay special thanks to the victim and his very supportive family, who have had their lives changed by the incident, and have been living with the consequences of a terrible act for over a year."
Featured Image Credit: Damien HammondTopics: Police, UK News, crime