TWO POYNTON graffiti artists who etched their 'tags' into the windows of trains have been jailed in a landmark case that gives a stark warning to offenders who wantonly damage public property.

Music students Paul Bannatyne of Spinners Lane, and Mark Rickards of Vernon Road, were sentenced to ten months each behind bars ' plus a three year Anti-Social Behaviour Order apiece ' after admitting causing '45,000 worth of damage.

The jailing, thought to be first of its kind in the north of England, has been welcomed by the village's parish council and the British Transport Police alike who see the step as a clear message by courts not to tolerate graffiti ' the scourge of Poynton for many years.

Bannatyne, 20 ' with the tagname 'Omas' ' and Mark Rickards, 19, who used the moniker 'Ink 13' were trapped after a three-year undercover initiative dubbed 'Operation Juggernaut'.

It has witnessed 25 successful prosecutions since 2003 and has virtually wiped out graffiti on the area's railways.

The two former Poynton High schoolboys were jailed at Manchester Crown Court last Thursday by Judge Martin Steiger who told the pair: 'These offences are graphically shown in the photographs, which reveal a depressingly familiar picture.

'Despite the huge efforts made over the last few years to improve the railway system at considerable public expense, you and others have been responsible for causing the squalid damage of railway property which is demoralising to staff and passengers and which has put taxpayers at great expense.'

The boys' families were said to be in shock and refused to comment.

And later Chief Inspector Graham Bamford from British Transport Police confirmed that the jailings had been a surprise to all concerned.

He said: 'I believe there have been other people jailed in London for this type of offence, but the length of this sentence sets new ground and no-one expected that.

'We welcome the sentence very much. As the judge pointed out, it will be a deterrent to other would-be graffiti artists intending on damaging railway infrastructure or the railway stock.'

Bannatyne and Rickards who both attended MANCAT ' Manchester College of Arts and Technology ' had been 'tagging' trains and railway property on the line from Poynton to Manchester, which means they sprayed or painted their own personal 'signature'.

Both men were also given a three year Anti-social Behaviour Order (ASBO), which says they cannot carry paint, marker pens and spray paint in certain circumstances.

Eleven of the 17 trains operated by First North Western on the line had to be refurbished at a cost of over '100,000.

But Miss Alex Simmonds, counsel for the prosecution, said it was clear other graffiti vandals were also involved in causing damage.

Bannatyne admitted causing more than '28,000 worth of damage and Rickards admitted causing more than '17,000 worth of damage.

They were caught on cameras spraying railway walls and scratching their 'tags' on train windows.

Richard Hartley, for Rickards, said his client realised he had been 'stupid' and wanted to apologise for his 'childish behaviour' and had tried to make amends with First North Western by approaching them and offering recompense.

He said his client had started tagging when he was about 13 and did not realise the seriousness of what he was doing or the cost it incurred.

John Potter, defending Bannatyne, said his client also expressed genuine remorse. 'There is no fear of re-offending and this is very much in his past,' he said.

'He is studying music and it is thought he could have an impressive future in the music industry.'

Later Jack Carney, vice principal at MANCAT, said the policy would be to accept their two students had paid their debt to society by going to jail.

'If a student then wanted to resume their studies we would insist on a supervised re-entry programme consisting of the guidance and support necessary to restart their education.'

And PC Stuart Peers from the British Transport Police said: 'Although Operation Juggernaut is now officially at an end and had proved successful we will continue to clamp down on anyone responsible for this type of damage in the future.'

Poynton has been plagued by graffiti for many years and last year a new parish council committee was formed to tackle anti-social behaviour and low-level crime.

Chairman of the Crime, Order and Environment Committee Coun Howard Murray believed the two youngsters deserved the prison sentence they were given.

He said: 'Graffiti destroys the quality of life for hard-working citizens and increases the fear of crime because it creates a visible crime.

'They are damaging people's confidence in an orderly society.

'Anyone who thinks graffiti is art is an idiot. The sentence underlines it is a criminal offence.

'It is not a bit of fun. It is self indulgent criminality.'

Parish chairman Coun Charles Gorst said: 'This prosecution is going to send out the right message to those people who do this kind thing.'

He added, 'Over the past 12 months Poynton's graffiti has also been reduced because the lengthsman has been painting over it.'

The parish council are given paint by NTL, so the parish handyman can paint over graffiti on cable boxes and are also given paint to cover graffiti on phone boxes.

A spokeswoman from Poynton High School said the headteacher was not available to talk.

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