5:00pm Thursday 18th March 2010
By Alex Hayes
A CARPENTER whose graffiti has caused more than £3,000 worth of damage across the borough has been banned from carrying tools including chisels and screwdrivers.
Neimantas Lasas, 20, of Dryfield Road, Edgware, was today handed an ASBO lasting two years after admitting three counts of criminal damage and asking for dozens more to be taken into account.
Lasas was caught when he tried to run from police who spotted him tagging a bollard in Deansbrook Road in November.
Further investigations with Barnet Council's priority intervention team showed his Coke, Koce and Cash tags had been recorded around the area.
It was revealed he had also been in court before for a similar offence, on that occasion he was handed a fine.
Prosecutor Peter Lock told Hendon Magistrates Court: “It is believed he had been going since 2008 and had caused substantial damage.
“There's no artistic talent here whatsoever it's just vandalism.”
Lasas was handed a four month curfew preventing him leaving the house between 7pm and 6am and was ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation to the council.
Sentencing him District Judge Tim Daber said: “It seems to me that with the summer months approaching it is a particularly appropriate way of dealing with this case as you told officers in the main you offended after dark.
“It costs a lot of money to clear up this graffiti, in the order of £3,000, but I do not think you have the money to pay that off in any quick timescale.
“You're a young man and within the next two years the change can be quite substantial.”
Under the terms of the ASBO he is banned from carrying anything which can be used to create graffiti or cause criminal damage, including screwdrivers, chisels, marker pens and spray paint in England and Wales.
He is also banned from associating with other known taggers Sebastian Salach, who was handed a similar ASBO last month and Alan Brown.
If he breaks the order he could face up to five years imprisonment.
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