GRAFFITI vandal Daniel Farmeary could spend the next six months cleaning up the trail of destruction he left around York.

The teenager avoided a prison sentence despite admitting to more than 25 attacks on property that caused damage estimated at more than £6,000.

But the self-proclaimed graffiti artist, who kept detailed photographic records of his work, pledged never to illegally damage property again.

York magistrates told the 18-year-old that he must spend 180 hours clearing up graffiti and pay compensation of £750.

If he spends one day a week doing eight hours' unpaid, supervised work, his sentence will take up to six months to serve.

After an earlier hearing, Farmeary threatened to attack the court building if magistrates prevented him from going on a skateboarding holiday to the United States. But in court yesterday, he had a message for the magistrates, the victims of his crimes and his family. He said: "I'm sorry".

He said: "I'm really sorry for what I have done and it won't happen again and I realise I have upset a lot of people, including my family."

His solicitor, Jackie Knights, said Farmeary was now unlikely to go on holiday, as the US authorities may have concerns about his conviction for criminal damage.

Sergeant Ian Illingworth, of the York community policing team, which has led a high-profile campaign to crack down on graffiti vandals, backed by the Evening Press, welcomed the punishment.

He said: "Now, he will be able to see first-hand the damage he has caused and realise the amount of ill-

feeling he is responsible for.

"I'm sure there are better ways for his creative talents to be deployed."

Farmeary admitted five charges of criminal damage between March 2004, and January 2005, on properties including a coach owned by Happy Days, a tunnel at the University of York and two freight-train wagons.

Farmeary, of Lamel Street, off Hull Road, York, also asked for 20 other offences, that caused more than £2,000 damage, to be taken into consideration.

Steve Ovenden, prosecuting, said Farmeary used the tag, a type of graffiti "signature", of SLOTS, and he showed police pictures of his work when they searched his home.

Mr Ovenden said: "Clearly there are a large number of offences and a great deal of damage has been caused, for which the Crown seeks compensation.

"It's unlikely that he will have sufficient funds to meet all the compensation claims."

Presiding magistrate Peter Smith said: "There were a lot of offences which were repeated, and they were clearly deliberate and disfigured property belonging to lots of people."

Mrs Knights said her client had shown a great deal of remorse for his actions and has learned of the effect they had had on residents and property owners.

Updated: 10:33 Friday, June 03, 2005