Tagger’s light bill
$3k fine for $16k damage
AN 18-YEAR-OLD Corio man whose graffiti spree left Geelong council with a $16,000 clean-up bill will have to repay just $3000 for damage he caused.
The Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday Brody Hunt went on a four-month graffiti spree this year by tagging and spray painting public property including power boxes, traffic light posts and an overpass.
Hunt scrawled his tag on an area equivalent to 1246sq m, leaving council $16,344 out of pocket, police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable David Vanderpol told the court.
Sen-Constable Vanderpol said Hunt was sprung in the act with two spray paint cans and markers about 2am on September 1 after a witness saw him graffitiing the overpass at Melbourne Rd, North Geelong.
The court heard a 198-page report drawing on council’s graffiti database revealed Hunt’s tag was found on council property in Geelong West, Corio, Lara and Rippleside.
Sen-Constable Vanderpol said Hunt told police he was involved in tagging between May 17 and September 30.
The court heard the prosecution wanted Hunt to pay back $16,344, but magistrate John Lesser decided to lower the amount to $3000.
Hunt’s lawyer said his client was unable to pay the entire cost of the clean-up bill because he was had dropped out of school and was unemployed.
Mr Lesser told Hunt he had to be held accountable for his actions. “You put a lot of people to a lot of trouble. I want you to always remember that this has cost you money,” Mr Lesser said.
Mr Lesser put Hunt on a nine-month good behaviour bond and ordered him to pay $400 to the court fund.