Crackdown on graffiti

The police warning follows the conviction of prolific graffiti artist Matthew Bunker, 20, for defacing his home town by spraying his ugly name tag all over the place.

Police tracked him down after putting him on their "most wanted" list for the vast number of graffiti "tags" he plastered across Uckfield.

Within weeks, the unemployed youth, who was like "Spiderman" as he climbed into awkward spots, caused £4,000 damage by daubing his signature on shops, public buildings, walls, petrol stations and businesses.

He even caused up to £1,000 damage to a stately home within just a few minutes as he painted an unsightly scrawl on a wall.

Scores of streets in the town are covered with taggers' ugly markings which cost homeowners and businesses thousands of pounds every year to clean.

One tag spells "MEPA" in 2ft high letters on flats above Peacocks clothes shop in High Street and another seems to read "NAIEZ" on adjacent flats above Oxfam.

Dozens of other unsightly daubings stain buildings across the town centre from Wealden District Council Recycling Centre to Cousin Luigi's takeaway.

Inspector Richard Allum, of Uckfield Police, said he hoped yesterday's conviction served as a deterrant.

He said: "Graffiti is the type of crime that blights a neighbourhood and I hope this sends a message out that it's not acceptable and anyone involved in graffiti could end up in court with a criminal conviction."

Before Bunker was caught, locals were astounded at the rate at which tags were appearing at difficult-to-reach locations.

Yesterday, at Lewes Magistrates' Court, Bunker admitted defacing Tesco Express and former stately home Buckswood Grange, built in 1838, where he caused criminal damage of £200 and £1,000.

He asked for 11 other offences valued between £150 and £1,000 to be taken into consideration.

Well-spoken Bunker appeared in court wearing a white shirt and grey suit.

At one point he was told off by magistrates for arguing about how much it would cost to clean off his handiwork.

Prosecuting, Mark Kateley said Bunker was arrested after he was caught on Uckfield's CCTV cameras.

Police searched his home on January 14 and found drawings in his bedroom that matched graffiti which appeared between December 1, 2005, and January 6 this year.

In his younger brother's bedroom, under the bed, there was paraphernalia including eight spray cans, black marker pens and pieces of paper with graffiti signatures.

Mr Kateley said: "Mr Bunker was interviewed by the police later that day. He admitted he was responsible in respect of the graffiti at Tesco Express.

"He said he couldn't remember where else he had tagged.

"He was shown photographs of various other graffiti tags and marks around Uckfield.

"He accepted he was responsible."

The court was told that the unemployed young man, who lives with his family in Sandy Lane, Framfield, was intelligent and had three high-grade A Levels.

He was cautioned by police two years ago for graffiti offences.

The court heard that Bunker's mother and younger siblings had been affected by negative public attention after he appeared in the Press.

On first entering the court Bunker sat with his head in his hands.

Defending, Justin Rivett said Bunker should be given credit for pleading guilty at the first opportunity.

He said: "Mr Bunker recognises the seriousness of his offences. He wants to apologise. He accepts his conduct was unacceptable.

"He readily admitted these offences.

"His mother and his younger siblings have had to endure comments that have been made about what he has done. He feels remorse and shame that that has happened."

Mr Rivett said Bunker did not see graffiti as destructive.

He said: "He felt when he put the marks and tags on rather bland walls or doorways or buildings it was doing something constructive.

"He does recognise the owners of the buildings wouldn't see it that way."

Mr Rivett said that Bunker attended university for a year but decided it was not for him. He is now living on £60-a-week income support and carrying out voluntary work.

He is on a three-month course with the Prince's Trust, working on projects including the refurbishment of a scout hut.

He is also involved with The Young Ones project in Uckfield to promote events, concerts and artwork.

Magistrates deferred sentencing until February 22 for reports to be prepared.

The CPS and police plan to apply for an Asbo to stop Bunker reoffending.

Paul Sparks, Wealden District Councillor for Uckfield North, said: "We are pleased that somebody has been caught and pleased that the investment in CCTV has been useful.

"Graffiti is unsightly. A lot of people are spending a lot of time and hard work keeping their town tidy.

"It is a pity when people go round doing those sorts of things."

CCTV was installed a year ago with funding from Uckfield Town Council and the police.

Barrie Murray, mayor of Uckfield, said he had been astounded the mystery vandal had managed to tag in such obscure locations.

Mr Murray said: "Spiderman couldn't have got to some of them. He had so much agility.

"It is a pity he thinks his art is better shown on buildings than in an art gallery.

"This may or may not be the end. Hopefully it will be."

A Tesco spokeswoman said: "We are happy it has been resolved."

Speaking to shopkeepers yesterday, The Argus discovered just how far taggers will go to paint their town ugly.

Graffiti was scrawled on one wall at Dawson and Hart Solicitors three times in just 12 months.

On the last occasion, just before Christmas, the firm had to fork out almost £100 to scrub paint off that wall and the walls either side of its main entrance.

John Carvey, the firm's accountant, said: "You could hardly call it graffiti.

"It's vandalism more than anything.

"It looks pretty horrible and is a real nuisance, particularly with people walking past.

"No one wants to live in a town with graffiti all over the place because it can make the town look ugly."

A shop sign advertising Cousin Luigi's in Church Street has been scrawled with tags which seem to read "Neppo" and "AoR".

The owner, Dewi Sroka, said: "This is a quiet town and we don't want to turn it into London or the Bronx.

"Graffiti makes people feel unsafe."

Saeid Nikdel, owner of Pizza Zone, in High Street, said: "You can do what you want on your own house but it's not nice to do it at someone else's expense.

"It would be a nice idea for parents to teach their children manners."