TEEN to pay for graffiti damage

A teenage graffiti artist who caused about £8,000 of damage across Coventry may be made to clean some of it up as part of his punishment.

John McKeown, aged 18, of Malmesbury Road, Whitmore Park, Coventry, who used the graffiti tag ‘Dobe’, pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance by being responsible for graffiti on buildings in a hearing at Coventry Magistrates’ Court.

He has been ordered to complete 200 hours of community service and pay £2,000 in compensation.

The case followed a 14-month police investigation to find out who was responsible for graffiti, which appeared on buildings, bridges and hoardings across the city.

Examples of McKeown’s work included sites in Holbrook Lane, Holbrooks, the War Memorial Park, Friars Road, around the city centre, and car parks near

the Butts, Earlsdon, and on the side of railway tracks.

After the case PC Heidi Portrey, of Little Park Street police station, said: “I don’t think anything would be gained from going to prison.

“In this case his lesson will be well learned by doing community service, which hopefully will involve cleaning up graffiti.

“Hopefully it will act as a warning to others.”

McKeown admitted to using spray paint to ‘tag’ buildings between January last year and March this year.

The ‘tags’ ranged from small pieces to some about 35ft long.

Coventry City Council calculated the cost of cleaning McKeown’s handiwork at £8,000.

Roger Bache, operations manager at CV One said McKeown’s punishment showed the courts and police took the problem of graffiti seriously.

He said: “Graffiti makes people feel uncomfortable and unsafe and this highlights that it is illegal.

“I’m pleased with the result and hope he will be made to clean up the graffiti.

“The compensation is a drop in the ocean compared to the tens of thousands the city has to spend on the problem.”