Drug Addict Purposely Drops Bowling Ball From Window Fracturing Council Worker's Skull

A man in the U.K. has been found guilty of grievous bodily harm after he intentionally dropped a bowling ball from his apartment window onto a council worker’s head, causing him a severe head injury.

The incident took place in the city of Nottingham, located about 130 miles north of London on Dec. 30, 2019 when Damien Hammond, 31, started shouting at workers who were working to move a television from his apartment complex. Hammond had told the laborers that the appliance belonged to him and that he was going downstairs to collect that, BBC reported.

Hammond then dropped the heavy ball wrapped in a pair of jeans from his apartment window and a worker was struck in the head. The worker was left with a large head injury by the impact and had blood trailing down his face, according to the BBC.

When officers arrived, Hammond started throwing several objects from his window apparently to resist arrest. Officers scrambled to arrest him and at one point, Hammond even threatened them with a hammer. Hammond was eventually apprehended.

On top of the grievous bodily harm charge, Hammond was charged with affray. He admitted affray but had denied grievous bodily harm with intent.

The victim hasn’t yet fully recovered from his injuries and doctors told him he may experience seizures and blackouts for the rest of his life, reported the Nottingham Post.

Hammond was convicted at the Nottingham Crown Court. He told the court that he had been consuming a synthetic drug called "Mamba" for three years before the incident and believed the council workers were "coming up to kill me off" and he threw the bowling ball out of the window because he was trying to "scare them off."

Hammond had become well-known in Nottingham for dressing up as Joker, the villain in the Batman comic book, and wandering around the city to "induce fear into members of the public and retail staff." The bowling ball attack came after he was jailed in 2018 for committing eight offenses, including disorderly conduct, criminal damage, and obstructing a police officer.

Hammond’s sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 29.