Alleged artist behind ‘Pam the bird’ graffiti in Geelong arrested

The man accused of a series of high profile graffiti attacks that targeted prominent landmarks, including the concrete silos on Mercer St in Geelong, has faced court. SEE VIDEO.

A man has been arrested over the “Pam the Bird” graffiti series, including this attack that appeared on the Mercer St silos in late December.

The man accused of a series of high profile graffiti attacks that targeted prominent landmarks, including the concrete silos on Mercer St in Geelong, has faced court.

Jack Gibson-Burrell, 21, was on Thursday arrested and charged with more than 50 offences, including criminal damage, burglary and theft of a motor vehicle.

The “Pam the bird” attacks have caused an estimated $100,000 in damage and divided opinion on whether the graffiti is art or vandalism.

Sporting a black T-shirt, shaved head and short beard, Mr Gibson-Burrell was brought into the dock of Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday alongside his co-accused, Matthew White.

Jack Gibson-Burrell, is pictured leaving the Melbourne Magistrate Court.. Picture: David Crosling

The pair’s lawyers indicated they would apply for bail, with the hearing stood down so they could speak to their clients.

It’s not Gibson-Burrell’s first run in with the law, with the then teenager avoiding jail in 2022 for spraying a security guard with red paint after he was caught painting the signature bird on a Brisbane train.

In one of the most high-profile recent incidents, police will allege he scaled and defaced the heritage listed Flinders Street Railway Station clock tower in July last year.

Flinders Street station was also targeted. Picture: Ian Currie.

It is alleged he is also responsible for graffiti plastered across the rail network as well as the “Cheese Stick” column on CityLink and a television station building in Docklands and concrete silos on Mercer Street in Geelong.

In the latest incident, the man allegedly targeted a South Wharf hotel on January 20.

Police said the man had also been charged over an incident in Footscray where an allegedly stolen car was driven through the front window of a Barkly St restaurant on December 20.

“Police executed search warrants on January 30 at addresses in Yarraville and Abbotsford,” police said.

“Numerous items were seized including spray paint, illegal fireworks, abseiling equipment and property suspected to be the proceeds of crime.”

Police also arrested a 39-year-old man from Abbotsford, who was charged with more than 20 criminal damage offences relating to the graffiti of suburban trains and the Docklands office building.

Both men will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Originally published as Alleged artist behind ‘Pam the bird’ graffiti in Geelong arrested