THE DEVASTATED dad of one of the two jailed graffiti artists said tearfully yesterday: "Watching my son go to prison was like having my baby taken away."
Tommy Dolan, the 56-year-old father of "TJ", and his wife Judy, 57, had visited their boy, who is currently being treated for stress in the hospital at a prison for young offenders at Lancaster Farms, and were appaled by what they saw.
"It was awful seeing him there," he said. "Going to prison was such a shock to his system. It’s the loneliness that is hardest for him, and for us too."
TJ, 20, of Leek Road, Sutton, who got 15 months, and his co-defendant Thomas Whittaker, 18, of Brocklehurst Avenue, Hurdsfield, who was sent down for one year – both described by the judge who jailed them as "decent and talented" – admitted causing £13,000 of damage by spray-painting railway property across the North West.
They were both given five-year ASBOs in which they were banned from carrying paint on the railway network – punishment they both expected.
But neither dreamed they would lose their freedom.
Tommy said seeing his son and his friend being sentenced was hard to witness. "It was just dreadful seeing them in the dock. TJ and Tom looked just like lost children," he said.
TJ’s parents are now struggling to come to terms with visiting their son in prison.
Usually their boy is praised for his work, holding art workshops to help underprivileged children, and the Mayor of Manchester recently admired his artwork at a festival.
Tommy added: "Everyone is just so shocked by the verdict, it seems so unfair. The work TJ does is amazing. He had only just come back from Dublin, where they paid for him to go and take part in an arts festival.
"People say that one day he will be famous. When he was asked to graffiti a model of a cow in Manchester for a festival, even the mayor told him that he was incredibly talented.
"My worry was always that the judge was going to make an example of them, but these boys aren’t criminals, they have never done anything else wrong.
"They are both so sorry about what they have done. But these are good kids, everybody loves them, they don’t deserve to go to prison. People say that going to prison doesn’t affect a strong person, but for a weaker person, it can break them."
Tommy added: "TJ was recently working with kids in Moss Side, some of whom were electronically tagged and only aged about 11 or 12. I don’t want to sound dramatic, but what are they going to do without TJ?"
Meanwhile, the parents of the other boy, Tom Whittaker, who is serving 12 months, were also having to change their lives to accommodate their personal tragedy.
Denise Whittaker, 40, and stepdad Neil Buttery, 41, have had to cancel their son’s place at Liverpool John Moores University where Tom was due to study graphic art.
Denise said: "I was really proud that he got a place at uni, especially because he had to sit before a panel and explain to them he was awaiting trial, but they gave him a place anyway.
"Tom wants to try and carry on with his art in prison and has asked me to find out whether there will be any courses he can do to keep up his skills while he’s there."
Neil added: "We understand that they have done wrong and they are not blameless, but the punishment should fit the crime.
"You can get drunk and beat someone up and get an £80 fine, which shows how out of proportion the sentences are. They have not physically harmed anyone.
"This was Tom’s first offence. He was arrested the week after he turned 18 and then put through an adult trial and sent to jail."
Both sets of parents are considering appealing against the severity of the sentences.
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AG (07/09/2007 at 14:08)
Just look at the pictures. They don't seem to care - you can see it in their faces. You might even suggest they feel proud. If I was in their shoes, right now I'd be panicking at the prospect of what lies ahead. Too late, I'm afraid.
I for one am sick to the back teeth of seeing our town daubed with graffiti. The act is utterly selfish and shows a complete lack of respect for other peoples property and for those who have the misfortune to look at it.
The 'art' of graffiti is by no means an expression of talent. This kind of 'talent' should in fact be reflected by zero-tolerance.
If the individuals (not just these two, but *every* single one of you that do it) really had a talent they would have the intelligence to channel it into a means that would elevate their status from unrespected juveniles, to role models for their friends and the community. Graffiti is not about self-expression or 'free speech' it is simply an excuse to make a mark in the most inconvenient manner. 'Tagging' seems to have a status - however it will do nothing to aggrandize you amongst others.
You should be warned. When you finally grow-out of your selfish phase and become respected for the right reasons, take a long look at yourself when you walk down the street and observe your so-called 'art'. You might just see it for what it is, and feel thoroughly ashamed.
Ally Parker (07/09/2007 at 18:17)
FREE KREKY & MERS
Ally Parker (10/09/2007 at 10:18)
You mean like volunteer for workshops and work with kids in Moss Side etc, do your research before commenting in future
X (10/09/2007 at 17:12)
Willy K (10/09/2007 at 18:47)
As for the campaign to free them - Why not let them learn their lesson like adults?
llllllllloyd (11/09/2007 at 23:31)
Theres people out there that do nothing but go around pickin fights, stabbin people, rapin people n all other stuff thats so much worse than a bit of paint.
Get real. They dont deserve goin to jail at all.
Open your eyes and send real criminals there!
All you people that say they deserve this sentance or the judge was correct..GO TO HELL.
carlosiyer (12/09/2007 at 10:26)
- What a ridiculous statement, "you can see it in they're faces?"
talking absolute rubish...good job you weren't around for a meeting with john merrick...the "Elephant man wouldn't have got a word in?"
Recently spoke to tj in prison... for a 15 month sentence for spraying paint...he is in the highest security prison for his age...on sunday he attended a church service within the prison....while there he was talking to 2 other inmates who asked him what he was in for...when he told them they both stated laughing at him...they were laughing because they're sentences had been 4 years (out in 2 years) for murder!...
Justice?!!!
Michael S, Surrey (16/09/2007 at 12:38)
It pains me to see how, in this country, we lock up so many young people and for so long. This is not character building, as some people would advocate, but merely creates a new generation of re-offenders. Just look at the figures. No other European countries treat their kids like that. There must be a more selective and socially valuable way to punish and to teach young offenders than throwing them into a melting pot of miscreants, only to learn new crimes. Young offenders too have needs, hopes, fears and aspirations, as do all our children and they need attending to, however they have offended.
For those who advocate `lock `em up and throw away the key¿ read the posting by Jane Price, which clearly explains the life long repercussions of prison. Is this what we really want for these two lads? Well not in my name.
Immy A, Macc (23/09/2007 at 13:10)
FREE KREK AND MERS!!!!!!!