A MAN has been banned from carrying spray paint for life after causing thousands of pounds of damage by spraying graffiti 50 times during a drunken spree.

Arts graduate Dorian Weeks, aged 25, whose mess cost up to £3,000 to clean up, has been given an indefinite antisocial behaviour order by Plymouth magistrates.

He was also given a suspended eight-week prison sentence and ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work.

Magistrates granted an order banning Weeks from carrying any unset paint, permanent marker pen, shoe dye or any material in connection with graffiti in Plymouth.

The court heard he scrawled his 'tag' or signature of 'Dorks' in 50 places in the city centre and Mutley.

Weeks, a former student of Plymouth College of Art, admitted causing criminal damage which cost £742 to repair to various items of city council property on or about October 28.

He also pleaded guilty to causing damage of £100 to the walls of Methodist Central Hall in the city centre on the same day.

Weeks, of Virginstowe near Beaworthy, also admitted causing damage of £50 to a privately-owned wall.

He asked for 22 other similar matters to be taken into consideration, where he sprayed graffiti on car parks, signs, electrical boxes and a vehicle. Each charge or offence relates to a single property owner.

Gareth Warden, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Weeks sprayed his tag of 'Dorks' on council property, walls and shop fronts around October 28.

He added he told police he had been drinking at the time and had been given the paint and marker pens by an unknown person.

Julian Berg, for Weeks, said he had come to Plymouth to go out drinking and did not know he got the spray can or even the jacket he was wearing.

The court was told at a previous hearing he had told officers in interview he did the damage because he thought 'nobody cared' about Plymouth.

Mr Berg said he had been drunk and 'it was not what he was trying to say'.

He added Weeks, who was very remorseful about his actions, was talented and had worked as a goldsmith.

Mr Berg said he had since cut down on his drinking.

Presiding magistrate Catherine Moran said: "You have caused a considerable amount of damage to the city where we live."

Weeks was also ordered to pay compensation to cover the costs of the council, the Methodist Hall and the owner of the wall outlined in the charges.

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