Man has brush with the law – 10 years after paint offence

POLICE prosecuted a man for throwing paint over a carpet, 10 years after the offence which he committed aged just 12.

Lewis Graham, now 22, was asked by Essex Police to attend a voluntary interview in March after his DNA or fingerprints were found to match those recovered from the scene of the crime in 2009.

A property in a suburb of Southendon-sea, Essex, was undergoing refurbishment when it was broken into, and paint was deliberately spread across the walls and carpet.

Graham admitted causing £400 worth of damage to the property during the interview, including spelling out his name in the paint.

Police issued him with a caution, instructed him to go on a victim awareness course and pay £80 in costs.

However, Graham chose not to attend the course because he believed that it was “stupid” because the offence occurred so long ago, Southend Magistrates heard this week.

The police then charged him with criminal damage.

In a statement, Essex Police said: “A criminal investigation is never closed until the offender has been brought to justice and regardless of the amount of time which has passed, we will always act upon information received to find the person responsible.”

Appearing in court, the defendant, of Southend-on-sea, pleaded guilty to the offence.

Penny Simons, mitigating, argued that Graham should have a complete discharge of the crime due to the amount of time it has taken to reach court.

She said: “The defendant told police that he did carry out this damage when he was 12. He could just about remember it. He said it was a stupid, idiotic and childish thing to do.”

The magistrates bench chose to give Graham a conditional discharge for six months, meaning if he commits a crime during that time, he will be punished for that and the carpet damage.