A 45-year-old man faces court for a series of ‘EZ’ tagging

‘Too high’. Ravenswood man claims he couldn’t remember causing thousands of dollars in damage in tagging cars.

Man pleaded guilty over graffiti offences in Launceston. Picture: iSTOCK

A 45-year-old Ravenswood man faced Launceston Magistrates Court for graffiti offences.

Nathan Thomas Kop, aged 45, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of mark graffiti on Thursday.

In front of Magistrate Ken Stanton, the court heard how Kop had tagged several cars in South Launceston causing over $10,000 in damages.

On August 15 last year from around 10pm to the early hours of August 16, Kop tagged cars on Bailey Street and Westbury Road in South Launceston.

One car owner has claimed they required $10,000 in repairs for their vehicle.

All cars were tagged with ‘EZ’.

Police searched Kop’s Ravenswood residence on September 10, finding spray paint cans, smoking devices and items that appeared to be stolen.

Drugs like meth, pills and cannabis were also found.

Kop claims during the interview he was heavily under the influence of marijuana and couldn’t remember the night they were inquiring about.

Ravenswood man fined over graffiti offences.

At the time he wasn’t sure if the tags were his, because he only did them in “bubble style”.

Other graffiti incidents occurred in July at Ravenswood Police station and Ravenswood Primary school Kop did admit to.

When asked about the August incidents, Kop said he’d “smoked too much marijuana” and had “no idea what he was doing that night”.

He told police the ‘EZ’ tag was his and he’d been doing that tag since he was 18 years old.

His defence told the court Kop was struggling with his mental health and leaning on marijuana use.

Magistrate Stanton was shocked to see a “mature person” facing graffiti charges.

He said he understood Kop was struggling with mental health but the marijuana wouldn’t have helped to “think clearly”.

“A mature person defacing other people’s property, it’s unsightly,” Magistrate Stanton said.

With regards to the items in Kop’s house, two safes and some tools, Kop said they had been brought in and were in the house for a few days.

Magistrate Stanton warned not speaking up about items which may have been stolen or unlawfully attained doesn’t help stop others offending.

Kop was convicted and given a $4375 fine.