DEFIANT graffiti vandal Daniel Farmeary has threatened to spray paint a York court building if magistrates prevent him going on a skateboarding holiday to America.

Farmeary, 18, made the threat on the steps of the magistrates court building only minutes after being warned he could face prison for causing damage costing more than £6,000 across the city in a two-year campaign.

Farmeary - one of York's top ten 'taggers' -daubed 'Slots', his "tag" or graffiti signature, across railway property, trains, coaches and bridges.

He was supported in court by his friend, fellow graffiti artist Alan Crosby, who last month was also threatened with prison, but escaped with a 200-hour community punishment.

Farmeary said: "I knew I would get caught, but I didn't think I might go to prison.

"I don't see how prison would help anyone. Why are they going to send me to prison and be a cost to them instead of making me take it (the graffiti) off?

"If they say I can't go on holiday, I'll spray paint everything. I'll spray paint this place."

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman warned Farmeary against taking any such action.

He said: "Given some time to reflect, he might reconsider his remarks."

Farmeary, of Lamel Street, off Hull Road, York, pleaded guilty to five counts of criminal damage and asked for 21 similar offences to be taken into consideration. He will be sentenced on June 1.

The items Farmeary "tagged" included:

Two coal wagons owned by Freightliner in April, 2004, damage £125

Railway infrastructure owned by Network Rail sometime in 2004, damage £1,350

A coach owned by Happy Days between March and April, 2004, damage £1,325

A tunnel on University of York land in January, 2005, damage £400.

An aluminium security shutter belonging to Patricia Ann Jones, damage £150.

A further 21 offences taken into consideration caused a total of £2,840 of damage. These dated from March, 2004.

The conviction comes three months after York Police launched a campaign - supported by the Evening Press - offering a £1,000 reward to those who help catch a "tagger".

Martin Hawes, representing Farmeary, said the experience of Alan Crosby had "hit home" with his client. He said: "He is a gentleman who very much regrets his actions. He's very much into a counter culture - skating and the subsequent lifestyle."

Mr Hawes said Farmeary had already paid for his holiday in the US and was working full-time to save up the spending money.

But District Judge Victoria Rose said: "I treat these cases very seriously indeed. You have taken into your own hands other people's property and dealt with it in a way that they did not want it to be dealt.

"I want you to understand that when you come back on the next occasion that not withstanding all the things said in your favour - a young man in work, remorseful, no previous convictions, pleaded guilty - this is a case in my opinion that crosses the custody threshold. You have to expect a custodial sentence."

Sgt Richard Crinnion, who is leading the campaign to crack down on city graffiti, said: "It is great for the initiative that people are coming forward with information, and that the courts are taking this so seriously."

Updated: 10:26 Monday, May 16, 2005