A MOUNT Gambier man who marked graffiti on street lights and windows in the heart of Mount Gambier has been ordered to complete community service.
Benjamin Dean Rolph, 23, appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court to be sentenced for marking graffiti and carrying an offensive weapon.
The prosecution said a witness was travelling on Penola Road at around 8.15am on November 9, when they saw the defendant walking on the footpath with a “highly confident strut”.
Rolph pulled a marker from his pocket and began drawing on a street pole.
Police were called and began searching the area.
They noticed more graffiti on the window of a building and later located the defendant on the corner of Commercial Street East and Penola Road.
When police searched the defendant they found four markers, which matched the colour of the graffiti.
They also found him in possession of a fold-out knife, which he said he was carrying for protection.
When interviewed he refused to comment about the graffiti.
Magistrate Teresa Anderson asked Rolph why he opted to mark graffiti around town.
“Send a message to whoever wants to read it,” he said.
“If you do not know what it means, then it’s not for you.”
The defendant said he had been homeless since being released from prison.
Rolph said he spent his money on food and clothing to allow him to live.
Magistrate Anderson ordered the defendant to complete 80 hours of community service within six months.
“A fine would not have been an appropriate penalty due to your finances,” Magistrate Anderson said.
