One of Sussex's most prolific graffiti taggers has been spared a prison sentence after admitting more than 60 criminal damage offences.

Jack Deeks, 21, of Hampden Road, Brighton, received a two-month suspended prison sentence, was ordered to complete 250 hours unpaid work and to pay £2,598 costs when he appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court.

Unemployed Deeks admitted seven counts of criminal damage and one of resisting arrest as he ran from police when he was initially detained.

He also admitted a further 55 offences of criminal damage which were taken into consideration.

The court heard how Deeks, whose tag is NOSH and who is a member of a graffiti crew called DWP - Delinquents with Paint - was arrested by police in the early hours of November 2 last year.

The police contacted Brighton and Hove City Council's graffiti officer who keeps a detailed database of graffiti in the city. She had photographic evidence of more than 60 of Deeks' tags.

More than £3,000 worth of damage has been caused on public and private property including walls, phone boxes and even transit vans by the graffiti.

After the hearing, PC Rebecca Temple said: "I hope the result sends out a strong message to other taggers in the city.

"It appears Deeks simply became caught up in the culture of being a graffiti artist. Unfortunately he did not think through the consequences of his tagging walls and buildings across the city or the cost implications of repairing the damage."

Environment councillor Geoffrey Theobald added: "This is a good example of how, by working with the police, we can tackle environmental crime, track down offenders and bring those responsible for spoiling our city before the courts." The council has recently faced a £14,000 bill to clean up Tarner Park, which was opened up for graffiti artists but surroundings were spray painted.

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