AN American who graffitied Melbourne buildings and posted pictures of his work on his webpage has been handed a suspended jail sentence but ordered to pay more than $15,000 in damages.
American artist ***** *******n *******s – known by his tag “Revok” – caused $15,340 damage to Melbourne buildings, bridges and trains in just two weeks.
The 32-year-old was arrested as he tried to fly home to Los Angeles last night – after boasting of his exploits on Twitter and posting photos of his handiwork online.
“I’m going to paint as much as I can then get the f.. out of here,” he Tweeted.
But graffiti devotees weren’t the only ones following his antics – and Victorian police pounced after reading his post,”on my way to the airport… can’t get on that plane fast enough!!!”
“I guess I shouldn’t have talked about that on my way to the airport, huh?” he joked as he walked from court today.
A celebrity in the world of illegal street art, ********s made headlines in his home town last year when he was arrested for vandalism.
And he says in a YouTube video about his work that he had “gone to jail I don’t know how many times”.
But Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard he had no convictions – a matter the magistrate took into account in handing him a suspended jail term.
He was in town for a legal graffiti competition but when the event was cancelled he instead defaced train carriages, bridges, walls and the side of St Vincent’s Hospital.
******** said he was sorry for the trail of destruction.
“I feel very remorseful,” he said. “I came here, I did some stuff, maybe I did a few things I shouldn’t have done.
“I apologise to the court and to Melbourne.”
His lawyer Anna Balmer said **********s was a passionate artist whose future exhibitions had been jeopardised by his crimes.
She said he had “painted himself into a very uncomfortable corner” and had acted immaturely.
Ms Balmer said *********s would pay for the damage. He pleaded guilty to nine counts of criminal damage.
Magistrate Ian von Einem said he took into account *********s’s plea of guilty and his lack of convictions.
Mr von Einem said graffiti put off tourists and *******s’s actions set back his own efforts to legitimise graffiti as art.
He said a jail term would act as a deterrent to others and imposed a nine-month sentence suspended for two years.
He also ordered that he forfeit his iPhone, laptop and camera.
I dont give a fuck if the dude is selling a fire extinguisher for a G – this is fuckin dope
