'Orgy' tag vandal jailed

3:02pm Friday 11th July 2008

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The vandal behind the graffiti tag "Orgy" painted across railway stations and carriages in Epsom, Ewell and Nine Elms for the past five years has been jailed for nine months.

Neil Adam Davies, 24, of Harefield Avenue, Sutton, faced Southwark Crown Court today charged with causing £38,000 damage.

British Transport Police Detective Sergeant Paddy Kerr said Davies was responsible for spraying the tag Orgy, Orgie and orgies across south London and the southern home counties between December 2002 and June 2007.

"Davies was caught after a member of the public spotted him on the roof of garages near railway lines near Victoria station in June 2007," D Sgt Kerr said.

"Davies was seen fleeing the area into a white transit van and the member of the public noted the number plate and reported the incident to police.

"The vehicle was registered to Davies. His house was searched and more than 300 photographs featuring the tag Orgy and Orgies were found at the house. Other graffiti paraphernalia, including a face mask was also seized."

Davies was charged with two counts of causing criminal damage and pleaded guilty to the offences.

Sentencing Davies to nine months' jail, Judge David Higgins today said: "You spray graffiti on trains and have done so for a period of five years. You have caused criminal damage before. Whatever feeble gratification you gain from this, it simply will not be tolerated.

"Trains are not your property to damage. What you do is distasteful, disgraceful and profoundly antisocial."

The judge went on to describe Davies as "clearly an inadequate individual" who had shown little remorse for his offending.

He said that the matter was so serious that it warranted a custodial sentence. He also ordered that Davies' white transit van be forfeited.

The tags were most prominent in Epsom, Ewell and Nine Elms and Victoria station and depots. He also struck on at least 11 separate train carriages on the Southern network.

Outside the court D Sgt Kerr said: "The tags and acts of vandalism committed by Davies certainly provided no joy for the rail industry or for commuters.

"Graffiti damage costs the industry substantial sums of money to remove, and results in trains being taken out of service and general inconvenience to the traveling public.

"I'd like to thank the member of the public who came forward with information to assist police in tracing Davies and putting an end to his crime spree."