Years of graffiti 'art' cost rail company thousands
The estimated £200,000 worth of damage to Network Rail's property has resulted in a three-and-a-half year prison sentence for one of London's most prolific vandals.
23 year old Robert Lee scaled walls and fencing and cross electrified tracks in order to trespass on railway lines and deface stations, bridges, trains and railway equipment with his own brand of graffiti art. Although he hails from Kennington, distance wasn't an object. Stations along the Waterloo to Barnes rail service including Putney and Wandsworth were targetted by his spray can.
Robert Lee pleaded guilty to nine charges of criminal damage, and received a three-and-a-half year sentence in addition to an Asbo that will banning him from the railway for a further five years after his release.
Additionally, Network Rail are looking to recover their £74,000 clean-up costs from him.
Superintendent Mark Newton, of British Transport Police told the Wandsworth Guardian, "This should be a warning to all those who deface railway property that the BTP and the rail industry are not prepared to tolerate this criminality, and we will continue to do all we can to bring you to justice."
David Pape, Network Rail's route director, said such vandalism diverted resources away from improving the railway, and described the crimes as "mindless".
July 20, 2005
| Related Articles | |
| Participate | |
Tickets are �3, redeemable against purchase of the book on the night. For further information and to reserve your place, please call the Putney branch on 020 8780 2401. Comment on this story on the forum |