Graffiti gang that caused £150,000 damage described by judge as 'talented artists'

Run_to_da_hills

Fair play to the Judge, its about time that authorities began to appreciate this form of art.

Perhaps Iarnrod Eireann should hold an international tagging competition on their defunked Mark 3's , 2700 DMU and 8200 EMU sets before they hit the cutting torches.



"A judge described a graffiti gang who caused £150,000 worth of damage in planned attacks on trains as 'talented artists', as he locked them up for a combined total of almost four years.

Keiron Cummings, 21, Alex Rowe, 22, and Billy McColl, 17, targeted train and tube carriages across London in a three-year campaign described as vandalism on 'an industrial scale'.

The trio, who called themselves 'SMT', caused huge disruption to train services by spraying their tag onto carriages under cover of darkness. But Judge Henry Blacksell said the defendants had 'got talent', and that he would pass the 'least possible' sentence".

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2246240/Graffiti-gang-caused-150-000-worth-damage-trains-described-judge-talented-artists.html

Cookie_Monster

that's not talent, its nothing more than scumbag behaviour.
many will see what the judge said as an OK to continue this mindless vandalism and call it art.
12-16 months for 150k of damage and untold disruption and economic loss is pathetic.

Judgement Day

Locking them up is a waste of time and money. They should have been sentenced to a serious amount of community labour and all of it spent cleaning off graffiti.

dermo88

I'd like to see them try that in Singapore. They'd get their arses cooked.

Dravokivich

Would it not be more ideal to re-direct their "talent" to something of more benefit, than just slam them down for it? I think that's what the judge's intention was.

Cookie_Monster

Dravokivich wrote: »

Would it not be more ideal to re-direct their "talent" to something of more benefit, than just slam them down for it? I think that's what the judge's intention was.

give them a paintbrush and roller and they can use their "talents" to paint out every bit of graffiti in London, might just about cover it.

CIE

Dravokivich wrote: »

Would it not be more ideal to re-direct their "talent" to something of more benefit, than just slam them down for it? I think that's what the judge's intention was.

Who is "slamming" their talent, such as it is? Criminal behaviour deserves punishment. "Rehabilitation" does not work.

And frankly, compared to some pieces that used to appear (too frequently) on the New York subway trains, this is not talented work.

gobnaitolunacy

Make the punishment fit the crime, make them clean the lot off and more. No point giving them free B&B on the tax payer and an opportunity to get tips from more hardened crims.

Dravokivich

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

give them a paintbrush and roller and they can use their "talents" to paint out every bit of graffiti in London, might just about cover it.

This would be enforcing a negative view of what the judge considered to be positive skill these people appear to hold. Pressing negativity to someone young will more than likely generate contempt.

CIE wrote: »

Who is "slamming" their talent, such as it is? Criminal behaviour deserves punishment. "Rehabilitation" does not work.

And frankly, compared to some pieces that used to appear (too frequently) on the New York subway trains, this is not talented work.

When I said slamming, I was speaking in reference to condemning them, locking jail cell doors and throwing away the key. Not their talent. They are getting prison terms however, but the judge felt giving leniancy on the length of them would be of more benefit.

What the judge considered to be talent, was in line with portfolio's the judge somehow saw. Not just the tag of SMT on the trains.

gobnaitolunacy

Warning: Judge's comments may contain traces of sarcasm.

Or is he really trying to 'get down' with the kids?

uberalles

The fourth member of the gang looks totally unrepentant with that odd costume and smug face.

LivelineDipso

150,000!

You got to love Irish Rail's costings.

Dravokivich

LivelineDipso wrote: »

150,000!

You got to love Irish Rail's costings.

You might want to read the article again.