Police are hunting a compulsive graffiti vandal who has spray painted hundreds of “tags” around a town.

Pensioner Barbara Crumley confronted the criminal after catching him in the act – but she was subjected to verbal abuse.

The 79-year-old turned detective after witnessing the crook daubing the "Masons" tag on the E Cliff railway bridge in Folkestone East.

Mrs Crumley stealthily followed the man to his house before alerting the police on Sunday.

She said: “The first time I caught him I followed him home to find out where he lived, there are four of them who do it.

“I saw him again in a nearby shop and said ‘you’re the person who leaves graffiti everywhere.’

“He admitted it and said he didn’t care, he said he didn’t have anything better to do and it washes off anyway.

“He was swearing too and there was no remorse.

“It makes me so angry seeing it all over Folkestone, it almost makes me feel ashamed to live here,” she said.

Mrs Crumley, chief coordinator of Folkestone East’s Neighbourhood Watch, believes CCTV and police patrols would help catch the perpetrator.

The suspect is described as between 18-22, slim, 5ft 9” and often wears a grey tracksuit and white baseball cap.

The ubiquitous tag has appeared across much of the Folkestone and Hythe district, even on private properties.

A council spokesman explained: “In the last two months we’ve removed more than 1,000 examples of graffiti across the district and this ‘tag’ was prevalent almost everywhere – on communications boxes, bus stops, telephone boxes and road signs.

“Unusually, this vandal has also targeted some private homes often causing a lot of distress to individuals.

“We’re working closely with our partners at Kent Police to apprehend this particularly malicious vandal.”

Town Sprucer Peter Philips added his litter picking team is on lookout for the suspect.

“If he’s bored and wants something to do he can always come out with us and help clean the town up.

“His graffiti isn’t even any good – he needs to give it up,” he added.

Graffiti, unless it’s of a high quality and professional standard, has a detrimental effect on society, both financially and emotionally studies show.

If the value of criminal damage exceeds £5,000 the maximum penalty for those aged 18 or over is ten years imprisonment.

For those aged 12-17 years the maximum custodial penalty is a detention and training order of up to 24 months.

Cllr Stuart Peall, FHDC cabinet member for the environment, said: “Anyone who thinks this is about art or freedom of expression has a seriously misplaced sense of what is right.

"This is simply the mindless daubing of a hapless individual who apparently believes that his scribble means something. It doesn’t. It’s worthless.”

A police spokesman added: "Kent Police received a report of criminal damage in which graffiti had been sprayed on a wall, believed to have taken place between November 14 and December 12 in Dudley Road, Folkestone.

"Officers have attended and spoken to the informant. Anyone with information can contact Kent Police on 01843 222289 quoting 46/276661/18.

"Kent Police works with Folkestone and Hythe District Council and partner agencies to detect those responsible and rid communities of graffiti.

"Reports of graffiti can be made online to the council, or call Kent Police on 101 if the crime is in progress."