Jack Gibson-Burrell to face court after allegedly spraying ‘Pam the bird’ inside city rail loop
Police have charged a prolific graffiti artist after he allegedly painted the infamous “Pam the bird” tag in a city rail tunnel — just one of many “Pams” to appear across Melbourne.
Police & Courts
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A man linked to one of Melbourne’s most prolific graffiti tags has been charged with vandalising the city rail loop.
Jack Gibson-Burrell, 20, has been charged over allegedly spray painting the “Pam the Bird” tag inside the city’s underground rail loop earlier this year.
The artwork has become widespread across public places in Melbourne — seen on freeway gantries, warehouses and trains.
It has also gained a cult following on social media, featuring on various graffiti pages.
Videos posted online show people performing death-defying stunts to get “Pam” out into the world.
One Instagram video shows someone on rail tracks spraying the large bird on a train moments before it departs from a station, while in another clip a person can be seen spraying the bird while hanging off a bridge.
“Pam the bird” has even had requests shared online by a student filmmaker hoping to feature the prominent artwork in a documentary.
There are also birds sprayed on the back of road signs on the West Gate Bridge.
Despite security cameras operating on the bridge, someone was able to pull over and scale a gantry before spraying “Pam”.
A Victoria Police statement said a 20-year-old man had been charged over Pam the Bird graffiti sprayed inside the underground rail loop on September 27.
The man, from Yarraville, has been charged with criminal damage, possession of a graffiti implement, entering a private place without authority and three counts of resisting police.
He is due to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on December 18.
Mr Gibson-Burrell shot to notoriety last year when he sprayed a Brisbane rail security guard with red paint after he was caught painting the signature bird on a train.
Outside Queensland’s Southport Magistrates Court he famously squawked like a bird when questioned by reporters.
Police said public help was crucial in gathering intelligence and investigating and urged anyone able to help to call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.
Those convicted of higher-level graffiti offending can face up to two years in prison and fines of up to $43,000.
“There are also charges relating to criminal damage or trespass-related offences that are extremely serious that graffiti vandals can face,” the Victoria Police statement said.
It comes after the City of Melbourne struck a new deal with Clean City Services which will see a 24/7 graffiti clean up strike team take to the streets from March next year.
The new cleaning contract has promised a faster clean up of graffiti in the CBD.
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