Creating graffiti has cost a man more than �1,000.

A MAN who admitted causing criminal damage with graffiti throughout Stevenage has been hit hard in the pocket.

Balaam Camp, of Orchard Crescent in the town, was fined �365 and ordered to pay compensation of �640 with �85 costs when he appeared before local magistrates last week.

The 23-year-old admitted criminal damage in Grace Way, Orchard Crescent on two occasions, Clovelly Way and Fairlands Way, again on two occasions.

He committed them between March 2009 and May 2010.

A further 20 offences were taken into consideration. He was ordered to pay the compensation to Stevenage Borough Council for damage incurred and also to the owner of a fence he damaged.

The court head that some of the murals were six foot high and five foot wide, painted with black and white emulsion. Camp had targeted a garden fence and underpass walls for his graffiti.

He had also used permanent adhesive to stick drawings of the same image to walls and roadside furniture including an electrical box, causing damage.

Chief Inspector Richard Liversidge said: “I am pleased with this conviction because this type of crime increases people’s fear that a neighbourhood is unsafe, when this is not the case in Stevenage.”