TWO graffiti artists responsible for a “concerted campaign” of vandalism have been fined and ordered to pay compensation.

Brook Purvis and Matthew Carr admitted 25 offences of criminal damage between them at Oxford Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The pair were behind the “SP£ND” tag daubed around Oxford and Witney.

Prosecutor Steve Molloy, speaking after the hearing, said the incidents happened between early 2010 and early 2011. “The Crown said it was a concerted campaign for which they were both responsible.

“There was no actual eye-witness or CCTV evidence of them actually doing it, however, the circumstantial evidence was so overwhelming as to remove any reasonable doubt they were responsible.

“Following a raid on Pur-vis’s home on January 21, police found stencils which matched the graffiti and also found masking tape, posters, sketchbooks, a laptop and a mobile phone.

“On the mobile phone were pictures of graffiti in situ, stencils and the log-in add-ress to Facebook.”

Mr Molloy said there was no evidence to suggest a reason for the “SP£ND” tag and the court heard the spree was simply “an act of rebelliousness”.

Purvis admitted 12 counts of causing criminal damage and was fined £500, a £15 victims’ surcharge and £500 costs.

He was also ordered to pay £1,200 compensation to West Oxfordshire District Council to pay for the clear-up costs.

The 34-year-old, of Whittington Place, Carterton, also admitted cultivating two cannabis plants and was fined £100 for this offence.

Carr, of Cranham Street, Jericho, Oxford, admitted 13 criminal-damage charges and was fined £650, a £15 victims’ surcharge and £500 costs. He was ordered to pay £1,737.23 in compensation.

Pc Duncan Johnson, from the Witney Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “Both police officers and police community support officers collated a large amount of evidence after seeing an increase in the “SP£ND” tag appearing around Witney.

“I am pleased that both men pleaded guilty as the evidence against them was strong, due to us undertaking a thorough investigation that saw their mobile phones and laptops being seized and searched.

“They have both been ordered to pay fines and compensation to cover the costs of cleaning up the graffiti. This shows we take all forms of criminal damage seriously and this type of behaviour won’t be tolerated.”