A prolific graffiti vandal from Surbiton, who caused nearly £38,000 of damage to trains and stations across London has been sentenced for his crimes.

Kieran Deeny, 18, pleaded guilty at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, May 14, to five counts of criminal damage and endangering safety.

A further 16 offences were taken into consideration.

Between March 2007 and April 2010, Deeny targeted trains and property in Surbiton, Worcester Park, Epsom, Fulham, Clapham and other areas.

Detective Sergeant Jeremy Walley from British Transport Police (BTP) said: "The damage committed by vandals like Deeny not only has a financial implication but it also means that trains have to be taken out of service to be cleaned.

"This can have an effect on the everyday running of services and all our passengers may suffer as a consequence.

"Writing graffiti on the railway is not a harmless pastime, it is a criminal act and we welcome the sentence handed down to Deeny."

Following his arrest, a search of Deeny's home address, in the Roystons, Berrylands, revealed photographs of criminal damage linking him to the offences.

Magistrates handed Deeny two-year community order and banned from carrying any graffiti paraphernalia.

He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, pay £5,000 compensation to the railway, and obey a six-month curfew order requiring he be at home between 6.30pm and 7am.

A South West Trains spokesman said: "Vandalism to stations and trains does have an impact on our passengers, and we hope that this sentence will send out a strong message that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable."

Call BTP on 0800 405040 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 if you have information about train vandals.