A student caused more than £1,000 damage spraying his graffiti tag "detest" across Brighton.

Graffiti vandal Robert Cleaver, 23, used spray paint to target shops, offices, walls and fences.

For two years Cleaver, who is studying criminology and politics at Sussex University, painted his tag.

Even when he was caught and fined £50 in 2008, Cleaver continued to deface other people's property.

But on the night of September 21 last year a taxi driver tipped off police on patrol that he had seen Cleaver acting suspiciously in North Street.

The student was stopped nearby – wearing latex gloves covered in paint – and carrying spray cans.

He admitted spraying the word "detest" in the North Laine area and when officers drove around they saw the tag on doorways and shop fronts.

At Brighton Magistrates Court Cleaver, of Ship Street, Brighton, admitted six charges of causing criminal damage and asked for 16 other offences to be taken into consideration.

Cleaver was sentenced to 60 hours unpaid work in the community. The court heard he could be required to clean up graffiti.

He was also ordered to pay £1,350 compensation and £135 costs.

Cleaver denied 11 further offences claiming he had not sprayed the tag and the charges were withdrawn.