Tiny criminal, who is just 4ft 3ins tall, jailed after huge graffiti spree
By Ross Lidbetter
-
SPRAYING SPREE: Graffiti vandal Matthew Mandell
ross.lidbetter@essnmedia.co.uk
A GRAFFITI vandal who is just 4ft 3ins tall has been jailed after a huge graffiti spree which caused more than £40,000 of damage.
Matthew Mandell targeted buildings, trains and stations around London and the South East, including a railway bridge near South Croydon train station.
The 27-year-old's "IMAGE" tag was found scrawled across 11 London boroughs, as well as in Hertfordshire, West Sussex and Kent.
The offence in South Croydon is only known to have been committed between January 1, 2009 and January 14 this year.
Mandell also carried out various attacks at Crystal Palace station between March 7, 2009 and March 3 this year.
Blackfriars Crown Court heard the vandal, who pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage, went on a two-year graffiti spree.
Mandell, of Castleton Road, Mitcham, was sentenced to nine months in prison following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.
He was also given a five-year antisocial behaviour order when he was sentenced on Tuesday.
DC Colin Saysell, of the BTP's Graffiti Unit, said: "Vandals like Mandell who commit graffiti offences often believe that their work is art.
"Sadly when the chosen canvas is railway property it cannot be considered art and is nothing more than wanton damage that costs thousands of pounds to clean up.
"Writing graffiti on the railway or elsewhere is not a harmless pastime and we hope the sentence handed down to Mandell acts as a deterrent to other like-minded individuals."
18 Comments
View all
by Goerge, Ex
Thursday, July 29 2010, 3:30PM
“" Arfur" - LOL”
by Arfur Towcrate, Staffycher
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 9:49PM
“"George" - LOL”
by Ann, ..
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 9:35PM
“So good it was said twice..if only!”
by ANNE, SELSDON
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 8:58PM
“Some of the youths who are jailed for graffiti have committed far worse crimes which can't be proved. As the graffiti is easier to prove, they are jailed for that.”
by ANNE, SELSDON
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 8:54PM
“Some criminals are jailed for graffiti, because it's easy to prove, when they have been involved in other criminal activities which can't be proved.”
by Greg, East Cro
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 6:55PM
“Trying to take the heat off yourself then Arfur , good try but its not working.
You have shown yourself to be a nasty individual and not at all funny.
Your probably all 3 of those people and maybe a few more too , now go and sit and play on your own if you get my meaning.”
by Arfur Towcrate, Staffycher
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 3:10PM
“Are George, Anon and Paul Meoff by any chance related? I think we should be told.”
by George, Ex
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 2:39PM
“Good job they removed Arfur's vicious remarks he's very spiteful.
Nasty man”
by Mr.Angry, The Estate
Saturday, July 24 2010, 10:04PM
“Went all the way to Herts to do some graffiti,wow well travelled.”
by John, Out shopping for a new hoodie and some spray cans
Friday, July 23 2010, 7:25PM
“Given that we have so many empty shops, and that the council is now trying to put "big up" Croydon hoardings over the empty frontages, why not hold some sort of competition where graffiti artists can submit an image that typifies the kind of work they do, and then let the public (via this paper?) pick the favourites that we'd enjoy seeing on some of the council hoardings?
I think it would provide the public with an opportunity to see contemporary art in action (some graffiti is amazing and, if you doubt this, you really should have visited the Cans Festival that celebrated graffiti art in the arches underneath Waterloo Station).
I think it boils down to this: if the council, police and transport police want to be tough on graffiti (and I think they should because 99% of it is no more than the equivalent of a dog marking its territory), then balance this out by giving talented individuals an opportunity to showcase their work.”