No Jail For Graffiti Tagger Who Vandalised Gold Paralympics Postbox

By Ruth Holliday Location: Jarrow
The damage to the postbox in Jarrow

The damage to the postbox in Jarrow

A graffiti tagger who vandalised a Paralympian's gold postbox has avoided a jail sentence. 

Nathan Geary wrote his tag ‘nopom’ on the postbox in Jarrow painted in honour of Josef Craig, who won gold in the Men's S7 400m freestyle at London 2012.

Geary, 21, also left his mark on the nearby Tunnel Club, cars and houses during his graffiti spree on September 12.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal damage at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court and asked for a further six to be taken into account.

Geary, of Wilkinson Court, Jarrow, was sentenced on Friday October 12 and given a 12-month community order with supervision and 100 hours unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £1,000 compensation.

Chairman of the bench Russell Hewitson said: "We were thinking of whether you should get a custodial sentence, but after careful consideration we decided against it.

"Criminal damage in the community cannot be tolerated any time but this involved the post box as well.

"You showed a complete lack of respect for someone from this area who carried out a great achievement."

The postbox being painted in celebration of Josef Craig's gold medal

The postbox being painted in celebration of Josef Craig's gold medal

Geary caused more than £1,100 of damage in the spree, which happened just days after the postbox was painted.

Claire Wright, prosecuting, said: "He was caught on CCTV outside Wilkinson Court and outside the Viking Precinct.

"He was with a small black dog and had a fishing rod.

"It showed him writing on the postbox, doors, cars, and his own building before going inside."

The court heard that Geary, who has a two-year-old daughter, has no previous convictions for criminal damage.

Rachel Comb, defending, said: "He appreciates how stupid and mindless these acts are. 

"It is something he will have to live with for an extremely long time, and he is deeply sorry." 

Geary later said he would write a letter to Josef Craig to apologise.

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