TWO men who spent last Christmas spraying graffiti at railway stations and bragging about their crimes on social media have been sentenced for their crimes.

The pair caused criminal damaging to the tune of about £72,000.

Their offending went as far north as Horsham and also included damage to trains and infrastructure at Barnham, Haywards Heath, Lancing and Worthing.

This occurred between February 8, 2015, and January 18, 2016, with three acts of vandalism happening over the festive period.

Adam Norman, aged 27, of Ashdown Road, Worthing, and Dovydas Butkus, aged 20, of Harlech Close, Durrington, have now been sentenced for their crime after pleading guilty to conspiracy to destroy/damage property.

The conspiracy charge compiled 13 different offences.

On Christmas Day last year, between 2am and 3am, they sprayed graffiti at Worthing Station subway.

PC Paul Burtoft and PC Alan Jenner of British Transport Police Brighton set up Operation Jargon in October 2015 in an attempt to erase the offending from the network and after seven months of investigation arrested both Norman and Butkus at their respective homes in morning raids.

During the raids more than 60 items were recovered that tied the pair to the offences.

Norman and Butkus were linked to similar offences through their Instagram accounts, where they had published photos and bragged about their offending.

The pair were each sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years at Lewes Crown Court last Friday (December 2).

Norman was ordered to undertake 100 hours of community service and Butkus was ordered to undertake 80 hours of community service. In addition, they were both given a £1,200 fine and ordered to pay a £100 surcharge, and handed a six-month curfew which means they may not leave their homes between 8.30pm and 5am.

Destruction of all spray cans and associated equipment was ordered.

PC Burtoft said: "There is also a real risk to life of those committing the offences, freight trains run throughout and the danger of being hit by one is real along with the risk of electrocution from electrified rails.

"We hope that Norman and Butkus learn from their conviction and find a better way to spend Christmas this year.

"With the 180 hours of community service they have been sentenced to, perhaps they will spend the day helping others and giving something back to their local community this Christmas instead of causing misery and destruction."