Worthing graffiti teenager praised by judge
A TEENAGER has been given a community order for his part in a graffiti blitz on Worthing seafront which cost £3,000 to clean up.
Mark Mcneil, 18, formerly of St George's Road, Worthing, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to cause criminal damage between December 20, 2008, and January 2, 2009.
The teenager, who now lives in Hove, was sentenced at Chichester Crown Court to a community order and one-year supervision requirement.
He also has to comply with a nightly curfew between 8pm and midnight until December.
Graffiti spree
During the graffiti attacks, hundreds of "tags" were daubed across the Grafton multi-storey car park, the Lido, beach huts, fishing equipment, toilets and other buildings.
Mcneil and a second teenager were charged in April with conspiracy to cause criminal damage.
Prosecutor Sue Lumbard said police saw Mcneil at a door which had been graffitied on January 2.
Arrested
She said: "He was arrested and close by, a pen used to create graffiti was found.
"He denied it belonged to him.
"He said he was not responsible for causing any of the graffiti but said he was interested in graffiti and tags.
"He was in possession of images of the graffiti and later admitted he did create graffiti in Worthing."
Turned around
The court heard Mcneil had been working with the youth offending team and had "engaged very well" in a project in Brighton and Hove which involved him making a feature film with 12 other young people.
Judge Claudia Ackner said: "Graffiti was put on buildings in the Worthing area and you went along and knew what was going on and that it does amount to vandalism.
"Since working with the youth offending team, you have recognised the limits of your interest.
"I am pleased you have had this turnaround."
Court order
THE Worthing Herald successfully got a court order lifted which banned the reporting of Mark Mcneil's name.
A section 39 order, which prevents the identification of defendants and witnesses aged under 18, was put in place when Mcneil first appeared at court, aged 17.
By the time of his sentence, Mcneil had turned 18 but the court still applied the order.
The Herald challenged the order and Judge Ackner agreed to remove it.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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