A man who daubed graffiti over city buildings including a magistrates court has been sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work.

Kevin Mason, 30, of Devonshire, Place, Brighton, was convicted of 19 counts of criminal damage totalling more than £1,000 between January 1 and December 12, 2004, to buildings near his home in Kemp Town.

He had pleaded guilty before the two-day trial to one count of criminal damage in Cavendish Street, Brighton.

He was arrested during the early hours of November 25, 2004, after being caught spraying a "fugi" tag on a wall. Spray cans were found in his jacket and he could not explain the black ink on his hand.

Eight pieces of paper with practice drawings of the "fugi" tag were found at his home as well as more spray cans and canvases.

Magistrates in Worthing yesterday rejected an application for an antisocial behaviour order (Asbo) by the Crown Prosecution Service which would have prohibited Mason from carrying unset paint, shoe dye, marker pens, permanent ink, a grinding stone, glass etching equipment, solution or paste.

Richard Elliott, representing Mason, said the defendant was an artist and photographer who carried out voluntary work teaching children they should respect their environment and not use graffiti illegally.

He argued such an order would stop him from doing his work.

He added Mason was often commissioned by nightclubs and Brighton and Hove City Council to take photos of events and festivals.

Chairman of the bench Fred Rowley said: "I do not think anyone doubts your artistic and technical ability but what we have to consider is that your acts did cause distress."

Mason was also ordered to pay £300 court costs.