Jailed graffiti artist's emotional letter

Laura Thistlethwaite

September 13, 2007

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Judy with the letter

A GRAFFITI artist jailed for vandalising railway property has written an emotional letter from his cell about how he is trying to cope with life in prison.

Thomas 'TJ' Dolan, 20, has written to family and friends talking of the 'zoo of angry people' he has encountered.

And he has also expressed his concern for fellow jailed graffiti artist Tom Whittaker.

Dolan, of Sutton, Macclesfield, was jailed for 15 months and Whittaker, of Macclesfield, for 12 months after they admitted vandalising railway property.

A massive campaign has been launched to free the pair, who are in Deerbolt prison, Co Durham. More than 1,400 people have backed them on online petitions and hundreds of comments have been left on the M.E.N. website.

In his letter Dolan wrote: "Me and Tom have been separated. I don't know where he is.

"There is no reason we're not together... and the staff don't know why we are separated.

Worried

"I am very worried about him... I am concerned on how he will be coping. I'm finding not knowing increasingly difficult and feel I have to help him."

He goes on: "Already it's sinking in how good everything is beyond this zoo of angry people, out there, where we belong.

"The people I've met say `yo, he looks like Oasis, innit!' So they're not far off (wink wink). Think I may get a haircut - I've been advised to by staff and inmates, but it seems a shame to change who you are even in small aspects."

Dolan also revealed he was thinking of the young offenders and underprivileged children he works with at art projects in Manchester.

He said: "It's a different world in here and I know I say things like that about my kids (at work) but this really hits home. Having such a part to play in my community and now coming here with very little control on everything is hard."

He ended the letter: "I can't believe I'm here. It's bound to be difficult but some people are here for good and there is a big light on for after my time here. Love you everyday, see you very soon - I'm fine."

Friends of the pair are planning a skating and graffiti festival on London Road, Man- chester, on Saturday to raise awareness of their case. They are to appeal against sentence.

YOU can read his letters in full by clicking on the link to the right.

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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Andrew, Manchester (13/09/2007 at 06:39)

I've no sympathy. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime!! I hope everybody sent to prison for a crime has a horrendous time in jail. Then hopefully, they will think twice before re-offending.

Colin W, Abroad (13/09/2007 at 07:14)

not interested, next story please.

Hope he enjoys his time in prison for the crime he committed

Salford Ken, South Australia (13/09/2007 at 07:25)

Sad as it may may sound. The bottom line doesn't change.

Do the crime, do the time.

gazz (13/09/2007 at 07:36)

Lets all feel sorry for this vandal, who is now paying for his crime & can't take it.

If you can't do the time , don't do the crime........

Mr Angry, Bury (13/09/2007 at 08:08)

Aw what a shame... Should be out of prison, doing 12 months forced labour removing all the disgusting eyesores which these mindless yobs deface other people's property with.If you can't do the time, don't do the crime

Joe to you (13/09/2007 at 08:12)

Perhaps they should pay the £13000 for the damage their criminal son has done to the property that I own via my taxes, Then if anything is left over maybe think about an appeal.

Leo B (13/09/2007 at 08:28)

Bet he won't be rushing off to deface property when he's released - and isn't it the point of punishment, to act as a future deterrent? Perhaps he & his chums should realise that not everybody has as high an opinion of their "art" as they do.

Boris (13/09/2007 at 08:38)

He says "the judge was too old to understand" does he mean too old to understand that it was "art" and not vandalism. If so the I would say that the sentence is correct. If he is still not capable of understanding that he has done wrong then he should understand that his actions carry a severe penalty regardless of his opinion. Hopefully that should curb any potential repeat on his release. Apparently 1400 people have signed a petition for his release. If there is a petition to keep him locked up I would like to sign it please.

Britain is a dump, Tameside (13/09/2007 at 08:40)

My heart bleeds.
Enjoying shower time, CRIMINAL?!

Jane Price (13/09/2007 at 08:58)

The bloodlust of the previous comments fills me with dread. We're talking about two youngsters who drew on public property not people who killed someone accidently, hit someone in a drunken rage, embezzled money or any of the criminal activities that very very often go with cautions rather than jail sentences.

What we are campaigning for is not that a penalty should not be imposed for breaking the law, but a 15 month sentence for £13000 of damage is comparatively unjust.

'Outraged' from just about anywhere gets little respect from me, it's bound to be followed by 'bring back hanging I say, bring back hanging!'

Paul Holdship (13/09/2007 at 09:08)

The vandal's letter did not mention any contrition or apology for committing the acts of vandalism. Perhaps that’s why the sentence is so long.

I am sick of people comparing sentences, what difference does it make. It’s simple don’t do the crime or do the time.

Odysseus

Lisa Moore...Wilmslow...Cheshire (13/09/2007 at 09:14)

We need to get these people out. They no right to be in prison. Maybe the judge in this case would have served the public better if he had sent them to art school.

marc (13/09/2007 at 09:17)

well said jane

the oracle, salford (13/09/2007 at 09:22)

I can understand peoples comments on here but what amuses me is this...

Anybody out there can be in the wrong place at the wrong time. And believe it or not which the no sympathy and angry brigade wont comprehend anyone of us could suffer prison at any time. The system isn't infalable. So think of this when you took yourself into bed "there for the grace of god go I"

To the boys mum I say this...
You are doing your son no favours by appearing in the papers and making his letters public. I understand as his mum you wish to get him out, but it isn't going to happen. He'll get his parole and that is it... maybe. I say maybe because the people who have made an example of him will not like what you, his friends and supporters are doing, least of all his comments about the judge. When he was creeping about in the dark with his spray cans where was you. The best thing you can do for your some is tell him to get a skin head adopt the K wing walk (he'll know what you mean) and get his down. Your son isn't a prisoner he is a Y.P. Young prisoner. By now he will be in or on his way to a Y.O.I. Your sons life is now about violence. The threat of it, the partaking of it or the avoidence of it. YP life is all about reputations. Its the lord of the flies multiplied by billions. Please believe me when I say let sleeping dogs lie. You are marking your boy out for the kind of recognition he does not want.

macker in N.Z., AUCLAND N.Z. (13/09/2007 at 09:26)

I will sign anything to keep shrek and his mate where they belong no good crying now you should have thought of that before you did what you did. And look at what there mates are doing for them a graffiti festival for them i rest my case with this lot.

Guten Tag (13/09/2007 at 09:39)

I hope these two chaps really take time to reflect on what they did. They, and their mates, are in the minority of people who believe their work is art. The majority think it's a disgusting eyesore. Personaly, I think the sentance reflects the crime. But if I'd been the judge, they'd be paying back ALL the money for costs for cleaning as well as serving time.

Shaken (13/09/2007 at 09:42)

His mother needs to spend more of her time raising the money he has cost in vandalism that showing the world a 'bleeding hearts' letter. Where's the don't free shrek and his mate petition, I will sign.

Donald Farrer, Rochdale (13/09/2007 at 09:49)

What we'll do is have a whip round so when they get out they can buy lots of spray paint and spray all the houses of the people who think it is "ART"......I'm sure they will love it.
Good on you judge for locking these thugs up at least you put some faith back in the legal system for the hard working and decent people in this world.

Britain is a dump, Tameside (13/09/2007 at 09:50)

Jane Price:
There was no blood lust from me, what I object to is not so much the crime, which as you say is relatively trivial, but the fact that there is a campaign to free them as if they are innocent or were not aware that there could be consequences when they BROKE THE LAW. There are more worthy contenders for campaigns and public sympathy.
Do any of these vandals treat their own homes and property with such contempt? I bet they don't!

kate urmpie (13/09/2007 at 10:14)

How can everyone be so heartless? TJ & Tom don't deserve prison sentences. Yes they need to be punished but putting them in that place is going to do nobody any good. The sooner they're out the better. My thoughts are with them & their families.

Leo B (13/09/2007 at 10:46)

Jane Price - it wasn't PUBLIC property they defaced: it was property which (sometimes) was in a public place, but which (more often) was someplace they weren't supposed to be. Some of it - on the East Lancs Railway - was property which a lot of people gave their own time and money to, in hopes of preserving our past history. Perhaps you, and Kate Urmpie, and all the other whingers about how life isn't fair should re-read the commenets on this story, and realise that not only are you massively outnumbered, but also that most people are pleased to see real punishment handed out for once, rather than the token slap on the wrist which the Courts usually administer.
When somebody sets up the "keep them inside" petition, I'll be delighted to sign it.

rugbyman, bolton (13/09/2007 at 10:53)

The old saying "If you don't want to do the time then do the crime " is appropiate .
Making excuses for doing wrong and expecting to let off is a behavour more of a spoilt brat.The guy is old enough to know right from wrong he is not a 3 year old
who does not know what he is doing.He should accept responsiblity for his action and pay the price.

Mr Angry, Bury (13/09/2007 at 10:59)

Jane Price and Lisa Moore, are you deliberately trying to get people annoyed, because in my case - you have succeded. This kind of namby-pamby woolly bleeding heart liberalism is just what has got this country into the mess that its in. WOULD EITHER OF YOU LIKE IT IF I CAME DOWN LADEN WITH DOZENS AND DOZENS OF SPRAY CANS AND DID DAUBINGS ALL OVER YOUR HOUSES/CARS ETC????? Thought not, well until you answer yes just keep it to yourselves. Is it because they are nice middle class boys who were going to university? bet if they were a couple of hoodies from Wythenshawe or Longsight you would'nt be bothered? They should know better

come-on-city (13/09/2007 at 11:02)

Jane, bloodlust is the right word for some of these (jokers) posters.

Any sentence that doesnt involve hanging just will not please them.

To the other posters. The issue isnt whether they did wrong (as they pleaded guilty) its that relatively 15 months for drawing on a wall is excessive. Whilst the owner of the resturant in Manchester who hit someone got 5 months and was let out early.

Thats the issue.

Joel Lawson, manchester (13/09/2007 at 11:06)

Served them right. IF YOU CANT' DO THE TIME, DON'T DO THE CRIME. These people (e.g. Criminals, vandals etc) make me laugh. They always regret what they have done when they are caught, obviously! I hope you will have time to reflect on the above. I hate these graffiti’s, they are eyesores and for people living next to them it isn’t nice. Why did he not do it on his parents home, maybe his mum would have liked it and she probably would have write a letter to say how nice it looks. Losers!

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