by Annette Wilson

A graffiti vandal caused more than half a million pounds of damage to trains, road signs, council property and listed buildings over the course of a year.

Craig Knapman's tags were "HOWE" and "WHOE" and his activities and that of his friends used up half Southeastern Trains' annual budget for combating graffiti.

Knapman, 20, of Rectory Road, St Mary in the Marsh. appeared for sentence yesterday at Canterbury Crown Court.

He had admitted nine offences of damaging property with a staggering 78 further similar matters considered.

Knapman had failed to heed a warning in November last year when he was given a condtional discharge for a similar matter.

Judge Simon James said the scale, extent and cost to society of Knapman's actions meant only an immediate custodial sentence was justified.

Knapman was sent to a young offenders' institution for 15 months.

Prosecutor Martin Yell said the repairs faced by the train company was over £300,000 and included loss of revenue due to trains having to be taken out service after being attacked because the company were reluctant to operate them in such a condition.

Knapman was interviewed by both Kent Police and British Transport Police and said he had been involved since schooldays being a member of the DR Crew.

He caused extensive damage around Folkestone and Judge James was handed a map showing the spread of Knapman's work.

Shepway District Council picked up a £6,600 bill and Virgin Media had to spend £4,000 cleaning roadside cabinets.

Road signs were sprayed costing Kent Highways £630 to repair or over £2,000 to replace them.

One of the listed properties was Folkestone Viaduct which because of its nature needed specialist cleaning costing £14,500.

It cost Southeastern Trains about £15,000 to clean up each damaged piece of rolling stock landing the company with a final bill of £378,000.

In 2009 it cost the firm more than £696,500 in cleaning bills.

Another listed building was a grade 2 listed workshop property of Balfour Beatty Constructions but no repair costs were available.

Trains operated by First Capital Connect were also targetted, costing £2,200 per train.

Oliver Kirk, for Knapman, said Knapman had no idea of the costs incurred by him and others or the inconvenience and consequences of their actions.

"In his fulsome admissions he has turned his back on that lifestye," he said.

There was genuine remorse and Knapman was motivated to change.