By Cameron Weston
THREE vandals from NSW who went on a graffiti spree attacking trains at three sites were fined and ordered to serve community-based orders by a Melbourne magistrate.
Magistrate Peter Lauriston ordered Brendon Ussher, 22, of Cardiff, Mark Anthony Cameron, 21, of Hamilton, and Martin Raymond Weir, 18, of Tamworth, to pay $1217 each for damage to trains after they went on a graffiti spree at Spencer Street, North Melbourne and Newport rail yards on the evening of Friday, 2 February.
The men last week pleaded guilty in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court to charges of criminal damage, trespassing and possession of graffiti paraphernalia. Ussher and Weir also pleaded guilty to other charges related to previous vandalism.
Mr Lauriston also imposed community-based orders on the three and ordered that spray cans and other paraphernalia belonging to the men, including digital cameras they used to record their activities, be destroyed.
The three men had flown to Melbourne with the sole purpose of vandalising trains, the court was told.
Usher and Weir used bolt cutters to break into the Newport rail yard, where they met a group of about 10 other graffiti artists.
Cameron joined them the following morning, Saturday, 3 February, and the three men bought more spray paint before vandalising trains at Spencer Street and North Melbourne.
Police said the damage bill from the three incidents came to more than $10,000.
Sergeant Mick Avery from Altona North police said graffiti was an ongoing problem for police across Melbourne.
But he said the statistics did not reveal Newport to be a “hot spot” for graffiti vandals.
“We cover both Wyndham and Hobsons Bay and significantly more criminal damage is committed in Wyndham than in Hobsons Bay.
“Criminal damage and graffiti across Hobsons Bay is of great concern to all stakeholders, traders and police.”
