UK - Railway graffiti vandal gets two years

[John Ashworth]

Graffiti Yob Gets Two Years For Causing £270k Of Damage

Mar 20 2008 By Keith Mcleod

A RAILWAY graffiti vandal has been jailed for causing £270,000 worth of damage.

Gary Shields spray-painted trains and stations in Glasgow, Ayr, Paisley and Helensburgh.

Every time, he left behind his distinctive "Daze" tag.

Shields, 21, of Crookston, Glasgow, was jailed for 28 months after he admitted eight charges of malicious mischief.

The sentence handed down by Ayr Sheriff Colin Miller is thought to be the toughest ever for acts of graffiti in Scotland.

Shields, who is believed to be in a graffiti gang called Eazy Riders, spraypainted freight and passenger trains, as well as stations. British Transport Police (BTP) said he had put himself and others at serious risk.

Shields was snared when BTP officers compared photographs of the graffiti - which had been appearing since 2005 - at various locations.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim McKelvie, of BTP, said: "This sends out the signal that graffiti is nothing other than vandalism.

"This man put himself in great danger, as well as endangering the lives of rail staff and passengers.

"We will continue to work with our colleagues in the rail industry to apprehend the people who feel they can indulge in any kind of criminal activity on the rail network.

"When this type of crime is committed, we routinely photograph the damage and add it to our comprehensive graffiti database we have on known graffiti offenders.

"We can exchange this intelligence with our colleagues in the other police forces throughout Scotland which has helped us build up a picture of graffiti crime across the country."

A BTP source said: "The huge bills were run up because of the cost of accessing and cleaning the areas which had been damaged and also because of the fact that rolling stock had to be taken out of service to be cleaned and repaired."

A First ScotRail spokesman said: "This conviction will send out a powerful message that crime or vandalism will not be tolerated."

Shields's sentencing on Tuesday came amid renewed efforts from the BTP to reduce acts of damage and trespassing on Scottish railway lines and stations.

Daily Record