A 20-year-old Dundee man who caused a trail of destruction across the city in an eight-month vandalism spree has been given a community payback order.
Alan Smart, of Pentland Crescent, daubed his “tag” on buildings and businesses in the graffiti blitz during 2010.
One of the most shocking attacks was at the Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education on Blackness Road in September 2010.
The college was faced with a £2,400 repair bill for the damage, which required the hire of a cherry-picker to remove.
In addition, buildings on Greenfield Place, Logie Street, Roseangle, High Street and St Paul’s Close were among those targeted by Smart.
He also admitted vandalising businesses on Perth Road, including Spokes bicycle shop, the Tartan Cafe, Dil Se restaurant and the former Let’s Wok takeaway.
Smart also admitted damaging a vehicle and two phone kiosks.
In total, Smart had previously pleaded guilty to 25 charges of vandalism between May 2010 and January 2011. Sentence was deferred for six months to allow him to be of good behaviour.
His solicitor, Jim Caird, told Sheriff Tom Hughes his client had adhered to the order.
He said: “You will be very pleased with the positive report in terms of good behaviour.”
He added Smart had had a change in attitude and was now applying for college.
Sheriff Hughes said: “You’ve obviously been of good behaviour and there’s a definite change in your attitude.”
Smart was given two community payback orders, one of 100 to be completed within six months and another for 60 hours to be completed within 12 months.
His former co-accused, 19-year-old Robbie Batchelor, of Blackness Avenue, was sentenced to four and a half months detention a year ago after admitting 26 charges of daubing graffiti across the city.
West End councillor Fraser Macpherson, whose ward bore the brunt of the graffiti, said: “It’s important that the courts deal appropriately with those who commit this type of offence.
“It is extremely costly for householders and businesses to clean up and for the council it runs into tens of thousands of pounds every year.
“I would pay tribute to the efforts of the police and to the rapid response team for both apprehending those responsible and for attending to clean up graffiti so quickly.”
He added: “It is a very timely sentence as on July 8 a graffiti clean-up is being undertaken by volunteer groups to clean up some of the mess in the area.”
Fellow ward councillor Richard McCready said: “There can be no tolerance of graffiti, it is unsightly and costs money to clean up.
“I am pleased to hear that in this case there appears to have been a turnaround in behaviour.
“I think that it would be appropriate for people found guilty of vandalism to be made to clean up some of the mess they have caused.”