Teenager targets Overground trains

Graffiti vandal who caused £17,000 worth of damage let off without a fine

Josh Pettitt , josh.pettitt@archant.co.uk Wednesday, May 16, 2012
1:45 PM

A 17-year-old graffiti vandal who caused £17,000 worth of damage to trains and council property has been told to carry out community service.

The teenager sprayed his unique signature on walls, signal cables, carriages and fence lines at stations on the Underground’s Overground line – including Gospel Oak and Euston Road stations.

British Transport Police traced the Islington teenager after recognising his tag from previous offences in 2010.

The 17-year-old caused £2,800.48 worth of damage to train carriages at Gospel Oak station and £1,407.24 to a train carriage in Euston Station.

He also vandalised £8,400 of Islington Council property during his year-long spree, which started in January last year.

He pleaded guilty to 12 counts of criminal damage at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on May 1.

The teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, was slapped with youth rehabilitation orders, a youth social behaviour order, an anti-social behaviour order. He was also told to serve 100 hours of community service, but was not fined because of his limited means.

Transport for London is seeking an anti-social behaviour order to ban him from the Overground line.