Unpaid work order for graffiti yobs
Men ordered to pay compensation
Two yobs who sprayed graffiti on buildings in Hamilton town centre have escaped custodial terms.
Ryan Burns, of Swisscot Avenue, Fairhill, and Liam Innes, of Glenafeoch Road, Carluke, were ordered to carry out unpaid work as an alternative to custody and pay the affected businesses compensation – Iceland in Brandon Street and the Bar 147 snooker hall in Quarry Street.
Last month, 24-year-old Burns admitted charges of wilfully damaging property by spray painting graffiti on to walls at Iceland and the snooker hall while he was on bail on another matter.
Innes (20) admitted a charge of spray painting graffiti on to a wall at Iceland.
Fiscal depute Emma Lambie told Hamilton Sheriff Court on Tuesday that a member of staff at Iceland noticed graffiti tags in the store’s underground car park and stairwell. She reviewed CCTV footage and spotted two males as being responsible.
Ms Lambie also explained that the owner of the snooker hall had returned to work on September 29 and noticed that the roof had been spray painted with tags. They were the same words which had been sprayed on the Iceland store car park, the court heard.
Police were contacted, inquiries were carried out and CCTV was reviewed which led them to both accused, said the fiscal depute.
Burns made “relevant admissions” when interviewed, said Ms Lambie. They were both cautioned and charged and made no reply.
Burns’s lawyer Stephen Macbride told Sheriff Vincent Smith that his client was earning £175 per week working on a building site.
He was currently into four weeks of a six-week training course and when this ended he expected to earn more.
Mr Macbride said: “He does seem to be displaying the appropriate level of remorse and has an insight into his behaviour and its impact on others.”
The information contained in the report prepared for the court, he pointed out, was “positive”.
Mr Macbride suggested Burns be given unpaid work and a compensation order which he was “prepared to make a sensible contribution to”.
Innes’s lawyer Luke O’curry told Sheriff Smith his client was on benefits of £90 per week, which comprised a carer’s allowance in respect of his mother and income support.
The accused, he said, was “fully aware of the unacceptability of his behaviour”,
Sheriff Smith imposed community payback orders on both accused, requiring them to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work within six months.
He ordered Burns to pay £450 in compensation to the manger of Iceland and £250 to Jamie Burnett of the snooker hall, payable in instalments of £30 per week.
Innes was ordered to pay £450 to the manager of Iceland, payable in instalments of £20 per fortnight.
Last month not guilty pleas by Burns to spray painting window company premises at Bairds Crescent, the former Bairds store at the top cross, and a Duke Street bus shelter were accepted by the Crown.
Not guilty pleas by Innes to charges of spray painting the window company premises, the Bar 147 snooker hall, the former Bairds store building, the bus shelter, South Lanarkshire Council’s Brandon Street premises and a wall of a John Street building were all accepted by the Crown.
He has an insight into his behaviour and its impact on others