Middle-aged Cleveland man defaces community property with graffiti to express his rage

A 41-year-old serial graffiti vandal who defaced public property over months has told a court he was angry.

A 41-year-old man with no criminal history who went on a year-long heroin-fuelled graffiti rampage has told a court he did it to express his rage.

A concreter by trade Cleveland man Regan James Curtis told Cleveland Magistrates Court today that he had “almost reverted back to a childlike phase – it’s pathetic really” when he went on his mammoth “tagging” spree.

Appearing via video link at the court from remand Curtis pleaded guilty to dozens of counts of wilful damage by graffiti, multiple counts of possessing graffiti instruments, enter premises and commit indictable offence, stealing and more.

The court heard Curtis had “massively fallen off a cliff” when a seven-year heroine addiction, the deaths of two close friends and the latent damage from a divorce got the better of him.

In addition to breaking into Redlands United Football Club to steal multiple backpacks with mobile phones, wallets and headphones it was his “significant” offending as a graffiti vandal that most tried the court.

Curtis, the court was told, had caused “exceptionally serious damage to infrastructure” with graffiti.

Regan Curtis focused much of his graffiti offending on Queensland Rail property. Generic image used.

Queensland Rail was a primary target with much of his offending occurring at Birkdale Station.

His 30-plus counts of wilful damage by graffiti also extended to Cleveland and Chemist King in Ormiston.

The court heard the defendant had been on parole and bail for some of the offending and had spent 59 days in remand, only to reoffend seven weeks later.

The prosecution did not specify the exact quantum of his damages, other than to say it was “large” and was complicated by some damaged train carriages having been transferred interstate.

Defence solicitor Stephanie Tsimos said her client was willing to pay restitution for his offending, enjoyed strong support from his parents and had landed a job as a street sweeper prior to his arrest.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta said it was a shame Curtis had not been locked up sooner and acknowledged his proactive turn while in remand.

The court heard the defendant had in his most recent stint in jail formed support groups for other offenders and had gained valuable insight into his own offending.

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The magistrate further noted it was rare for an adult to take up graffiti, it being the domain of frustrated teenagers set on making their mark in society.

The defendant said he most rued the considerable damage he had caused to his family.

Deemed by Magistrate Vasta to have good prospects at rehabilitation Curtis was sentenced to a 12-month intensive corrections order to be served in the community.