A persistent graffiti artist has recently been jailed for two years having been convicted for causing more than £30,000 worth of damage to the railway network in south London and the southern Home Counties.
Raymond Agbegah, 24, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court for causing criminal damage to South West Trains, Southern and Network Rail property throughout October last year. This was his 15th court appearance, following 58 previous convictions.
Mac Mackintosh, South West Trains' Engineering Director said: "Graffiti is the scourge of the rail network and is soul-destroying for the depot teams who are constantly removing daubings, which are often obscene and offensive, from our trains. This result sends out a clear message that we are out to catch offenders and will press for the strongest possible convictions."
Agbegah was identified in this case for using the tag ‘MILK’ – a tag that he had been convicted for using on the railways in the past. PC Garden from the BTP Area Crime Unit said, “Variations of this tag have appeared across the network, with depots in Streatham Hill and Strawberry Hill and stations at Streatham Hill, Streatham, Norbury and North Dulwich being the object of his crime spree. As part of the investigation, BTP officers were also able to link Agbegah with two other tags, Emma and I LOVE EMMA.”
PC Garden went on to say, “Vandalism is a senseless act…His actions resulted in trains being taken out of service, so they could be cleaned, causing inconvenience to members of the public who use the railway system. I am please that the court has highlighted the seriousness of this offence by imposing a jail sentence.”