Graffiti Gremlin faces the law

I’d heard a few weeks ago that long-term graffiti gremlin Syks had finally been caught and today I was pleased to see had finally faced the law, as reported here on YourCardiff. 17 year old Moritz Miester is the guilty party, though I believe a number of people have copied his tag either to spread the word or because they lack the creative skills for their own.

You can see on our main photo the type of damage this young man has caused, completely de-facing Station Road in Llandaff North. His “work” is well known all over Cardiff but it is in Cardiff North where we have constantly had to put up with this for the last few years, spoiling bus stops, train stations, park benches, subways and graffiti murials that had shown some real artisitic talent. It’s cost the council and private firms tens of thousands of pounds to clean up and bare in mind also he’s stolen three grand from a school safe, I would have thought the law would want to make an example of him.

Sadly this was not to be. He has been given a 3 year Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) and an 18-month rehabilitation order, told to comply with an extended activity requirement and given a 13-week curfew.

So here we have someone who has zero respect for public and private property and fails to see that he has done wrong and the law system gives him a slap on the wrists. Does the court actually believe this 17 year old gives a damn about having an ASBO – something which since it’s introduction has been described as a badge of honour amongst the youth?

Is this sort of punishment really going to encourage him to put an end to his ways? I doubt it very much…and what sort of message does this send out to all the other kids with a can of spray paint in their hands?

I might be wrong here and I’d love to sit down with this guy and find out what he really thinks, but in my opinion the justice system of this country has once again let us down and might as well have spat in our faces.

As usual, I would love to know your thoughts on this in the comment area below…

Tags: community, graffiti, PACT, Police, village, whitchurch, youth