The 16-year-old responsible for tagging the gates to Cornwall Park, a wall by Hastings' Japanese gardens, power poles and properties on Tomoana Road did it because he wanted "to be a prick".
The teenager appeared in the Hastings Youth Court yesterday facing two charges of wilful damage, one of which covered several Hastings District Council properties that were tagged on June 2.
The Hastings youth used the "BSK" tag. When caught by police he told them he did it because he wanted "to be a prick".
Judge Bridget Mackintosh was told the youth had only just completed a previous supervision order on May 18, with his social worker still to finish the final "effectiveness" report.
"You have got yourself back into trouble, tagging is it?" Judge Mackintosh asked him.
"It's not going down very well in Hawke's Bay, have you been reading the papers? Do you know what happens to people in the adult court?"
"They get sent away," the teenager answered. He didn't deny the charges and a Family Group Conference was set for July.
In the adult court in recent times, Hawke's Bay men Ford Randell and Jason Spark have been given prison sentences for graffiti crime.
Another, Quentin McKelvey, was told to prepare for prison when he appeared in the Hastings District Court on one charge last week.
The 21-year-old orchard worker made national headlines last month after it was discovered he had been scribbled on with green ink by a Havelock North bar manager who caught him red-handed in mid-April.
Police prosecutor Kris Eckhold said a further 11 charges were expected to be laid as six different complainants had come forward.
Judge Tony Adeane said McKelvey had a final warning a month ago when he was sentenced to 150 hours of community work and supervision for tagging a railway control box and a grandstand. "You're turning Hastings into a ghetto, a pigsty," the judge said.
McKelvey was remanded on bail, without entering a plea, to appear again on June 12.
"I suggest you have a toothbrush and some pyjamas with you," Judge Adeane said.
Tagger 'wanted to be a prick'
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