TWO train graffiti artists who were tracked by their distinctive 'signatures' have been jailed for causing nearly £13,000 damage.

Thomas Dolan, 20, and Thomas Whittaker, 18, daubed trains, bridges and other railway property throughout Greater Manchester with spray paint murals - and posted examples of their work on graffiti websites. Dolan used the `tag' - or signature - of Krek with a caricature cat called Kreky. Whittaker used the tag of Mers, Manchester Crown Court was told.

Both men from Macclesfield were traced after British Transport Police tracked website postings of their work back to their emails.

Dolan was jailed for 15 months after admitting seven counts of criminal damage and asking for 12 more to be considered.

Whittaker was jailed for 12 months after admitting six counts of criminal damage and asking for eight others to be considered.

Dolan's graffiti caused £12,900 damage and Whittaker's caused £11,400 worth, although the majority of the costs were `shared' between the two.

They were responsible for graffiti on trains, stations and railway property in Gatley, Bury, Buxton, Wigan, Macclesfield, Stockport and Longsight.

Sub culture

Andrew Mackintosh, prosecuting, said: "Both these men belonged to a graffiti sub culture in which each artist has his own tag by which the authors identify themselves and the property they have damaged.

"They constantly develop and practise their tags. They tend to work in groups known as crews and put their tags on property where they could be seen by other members of their crew and by the general public."

Dolan and Whittaker belonged to a crew called FMS and often recorded their work on video and loaded them on to computer discs.

Judge Anthony Ensor told the pair: "This conduct has caused an unpleasant nuisance as well as disruption and expense.

"You are decent people who have a talent but those who scar railways and other people's property have to be deterred. This kind of behaviour is carried out for self indulgent gratification."

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