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Prolific teenage vandal unmasked
Graffiti yob Joseph Hiles is today unmasked as the face behind Sunderland's infamous "Rain" tag.
The 19-year-old's public handiwork has caused such concern that he has now been banned from possessing spraypaint cans or marker pens.
After an extensive police investigation, he has also been barred from entering any Metro or Railtrack property, after the tag was scribbled across Sunderland's transport system.
Police have slapped Hiles, of Kidd Square, Town End Farm, with a two-year Antisocial Behaviour Order (Asbo), in the hope it will curtail his criminal activities.
For the past 12 months, the Echo has reported how walls and buildings across the city have been repeatedly defaced with the Rain tag.
The signature quickly became Sunderland's answer to the notorious "Inch" name that plagued the North East for many years.
Hiles appeared before Sunderland Magistrates' Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to three charges of criminal damage. He also had 18 matters of criminal damage, all involving the same tag, taken into consideration.
He was sentenced to a 12-month community order, as well as receiving the Asbo.
Inspector Sarah Pitt, of Sunderland Area Command, said: "This is a prolific offender who we know has been responsible for significant criminal damage across the whole of the city.
"Now, if he is caught in public with a spraypaint can or a marker pen, he is in breach of his Asbo and can be brought back to court.
"Graffiti is not only antisocial, it needs to be cleaned up at great expense to the tax-payer. It also has an impact on the community. We hope this case demonstrates we will prosecute those responsible."
The conditions of his Asbo state Hiles is prohibited from "possessing spraypaint cans, marker pens or paint and brushes for the purposes of graffiti", as well as being "banned from entering any Nexus or Railtrack property".
A spokesman for Nexus, operator of the Metro, said: "Joseph Hiles is a prolific Metro graffiti vandal and we welcome this action taken by the courts because he has cost Nexus and the taxpayers thousands of pounds to clean up his mess.
"This shows that criminals who vandalise our property will be brought to justice."
Just weeks ago, Network Rail claimed thousands of pounds which could be spent on improving the rail network on Wearside has been diverted into dealing with graffiti vandals.
Police say the yobs, who take risks by trespassing on bridges and railway lines, not only cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds, they also risk their own lives.
Nexus spends 350,000 a year to remove daubings from trains, stations and trackside buildings, and clearing messages scratched into windows and doors.
About 1.3million is spent in the North East region each year on removing graffiti.
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Weather for Sunderland
Thursday 09 February 2012
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Heavy sleet
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