A man who terrorised an entire city during a three-month crime spree while dressed as The Joker, screamed ‘I’ll kill today’ as he was jailed.

Damien Hammon regularly wore make-up and a purple suit to make himself look like the Batman villain as he carried out his crimes close to the Nottinghamshire village of Gotham.

He was even wearing the outfit and make-up in his police mugshot after his arrest for harassing shop staff and members of the public, Nottinghamshire Police said.

Damien Hammond, 29, carried out crimes in Nottingham while dressed as The Joker (Picture: Eugene Henderson)

The 29-year-old, who has been jailed for 22 weeks and banned from Nottingham city centre for three years, admitted a string of charges including obstructing police and unlawful possession of cannabis, the force said.




They followed offences of theft, possession of an offensive weapon and indecent exposure, for which he was handed a suspended sentence earlier this year.

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He also pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct towards staff in branches of Tesco Express and Shoe Zone and the court heard that he had been seen waving a gun-shaped cigarette lighter while standing among traffic.

On hearing his sentence, Hammond, who appeared in court with bright green hair, screamed: ‘Send me to prison, I don’t care.’

As he was led to the cells, he shouted: ‘See what you have done, I will kill today.’

Hammond’s offences took place between March and April just a few miles away from the village of Gotham – which shares its name with his favourite character’s home city.

Hammond wore eye make-up, a purple blazer and green shirt in his police mugshot (Picture: PA)

Nottingham Magistrates’ Court heard he was well known locally for his obsession with the comic book villain.

His crime spree began after he was given a previous 21-week suspended sentence on April 17, the court was told.

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Magistrates said his behaviour ‘revealed a course of blatant criminal behaviour’.

Community protection enforcement officer Jeff Surgay said in a report read out in court: ‘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.’

Hammond told the court ‘I’ll kill today’ as he was led to the cells (Picture: Eugene Henderson)

Inspector Anwaar Ahmed, of Nottinghamshire Police, 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.’

Hammond, of no fixed address, will only be able to enter Nottingham city centre to attend court or appointments with his support worker.

Hammond's crime spree around Nottingham August 14: Disorderly conduct toward store staff at Tesco Express

August 15: Obstructing a police officer in St Peter’s Square

August 23: Disorderly behaviour toward staff at Shoe Zone

August 23: Disorderly conduct toward a police officer in South Parade

October 9: Possession of cannabis in Collin Street

October 9: Disorderly conduct in Collin Street

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