MAGISTRATES have ordered a serial graffiti vandal to spend the coming months cleaning up his "work" - and told him he should take art lessons.

Alan Crosby, 19, left a trail of damage across the city that will cost thousands of pounds to repair, said Emma Pearce, prosecuting.

After looking at examples of his graffiti, York magistrates ordered him to do 200 hours' community punishment - including removing his "work" from the city's buildings.

"Then you can see how hard it is to get the stuff off," senior magistrate Joan Visick told him. She also told him he should take art lessons.

"The standard of your graffiti leaves a lot to be desired. I can assure you, in a lot of places I have seen far superior stuff," she added. "That I appreciate. I don't appreciate yours."

She told Crosby that graffiti could be art, provided it was done in the right places and with the right skill.

Crosby, of Trevor Grove, off Hollybank, Holgate, pleaded guilty to two offences of criminal damage, and asked for 25 more to be taken into consideration. All of the offences were alleged to have occurred between November 1 and March 4.

Miss Pearce said the damage to council buildings alone would cost nearly £3,000, and that private buildings were also vandalised.

Because Crosby had a weekly income of £45, magistrates ordered him to pay £500 compensation, plus £50 prosecution costs.

For Crosby, Julian Tanikal said the punishment would fit the crime.

He said: "He is a gentleman who does have a talent, some would call it graffiti, some would call it art. He certainly has artistic ability."

Mr Tanikal said Crosby was now using it in legitimate ways. He worked at a friend's shop making artistic panels for T-shirts and other items. He said: "He wants to stay on the right side of the law."

Crosby had genuine remorse, and had been deeply worried since his last court appearance when he was warned he could go to jail.

Miss Pearce said Crosby had toured the city in a police car showing officers his "work".

Last month the Evening Press backed a move by York Police to flush out graffiti vandals who daub walls and buildings in our city with their unsightly scrawl.

Officers revealed a "top ten" of the most prolific vandals and their work. Rewards of up to £1,000 were offered for anyone that could identify the hand behind the graffiti.

Updated: 10:00 Tuesday, April 12, 2005