TOX jailed

[Julia]

Noticed in the Evening Standard that the (an?) infamous TOX tagger has been jailed for 27 months on seven specimen counts of criminal damage totalling more than £200,000. His campaign of attacks stretched over 10 years and included railway infrastructure across the country, rolling stock, buses and (as if to prove what a complete tosspot he is) a funeral home.

 

[Minilad]

What a toe-rag. Pity the companies involved can't recover the money spent in rectifying his antics

 

[ralphchadkirk]

What a toe-rag. Pity the companies involved can't recover the money spent in rectifying his antics

They can do through the civil system.

 

[First class]

They can do through the civil system.

Hmm, I suspect that "TOX" is hardly likely to be in a paid job. Either £1 a week for rest of his life, or a TOC would incur more costs pursuing it then they would ever recoup.

 

[Minilad]

They can do through the civil system.

Bet they don't though. Dole money wouldn't stretch that far.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Hmm, I suspect that "TOX" is hardly likely to be in a paid job. Either £1 a week for rest of his life, or a TOC would incur more costs pursuing it then they would ever recoup.

Very little costs for the TOC, as he has been found guilty of the criminal offence there will be no civil trial, it'll just go straight to the awarding compensation bit. Getting the money out of him would be the difficult bit.

 

[Dreadnought]

All I can say is "About Time"! His 'tags' have been an eyesore travelling around many parts of London!

Now needs someone to find 'Bloodaxe' in Sheffield and lock them up as well!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I would give him a prison sentence that has a cost-relationship basis...say 1 months incarceration for every £100 worth of damage, which based on a figure of £200,000 damages equates to enough to ensure that even with parole, he will never be allowed out of prison ever again as a warning to others.

I now await the Charge of the "Poor unfortunate lad" Brigade
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Now needs someone to find 'Bloodaxe' in Sheffield and lock them up as well!

I would give "Bloodaxe" the well-known "Blood Eagle" treatment. Look this up to find out, if you don't know...but it certainly would be a deterrant to end all deterrants.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I would give him a prison sentence that has a cost-relationship basis...say 1 months incarceration for every £100 worth of damage, which based on a figure of £200,000 damages equates to enough to ensure that even with parole, he will never be allowed out of prison ever again as a warning to others.

I now await the Charge of the "Poor unfortunate lad" Brigade

Let's get this in perspective, he's a vandal not a serial killer!

Of course, if you're willing for your taxes to go up to pay for keeping more prisoners. We'll have to build more prisons - perhaps one near you?

 

[N Levers]

Noticed in the Evening Standard that the (an?) infamous TOX tagger has been jailed for 27 months on seven specimen counts of criminal damage totalling more than £200,000. His campaign of attacks stretched over 10 years and included railway infrastructure across the country, rolling stock, buses and (as if to prove what a complete tosspot he is) a funeral home.

27 MONTHS... Some killers get less. Surely community service on the Railway would have been more appropriate.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

27 MONTHS... Some killers get less. Surely community service on the Railway would have been more appropriate.

Perhaps 200 hours cleaning graffiti off trains. How's that for irony...

 

[Minilad]

Perhaps 200 hours cleaning graffiti off trains. How's that for irony...

And where is the deterrent for others with that sentence.
Yes, lets let him work on the railway so he can learn more about the workings of it. So when he is finished he can start all over again.
Maybe while he is in prison he can think about the stupidness of his crimes, not to mention the danger

 

[12CSVT]

And so the merry-go-round continues. I seem to remember he was jailed a few years ago - obviously not enough of a deterrent. What I'd like to know is, if he's on the dole, where does he get the money for all that spray paint ?

I don't think giving him a job on the railway is a good idea. Do you really want such a despicable creature gaining inside knowledge to depots and other non-public areas of the railway ?

 

[HugePilchard]

What I'd like to know is, if he's on the dole, where does he get the money for all that spray paint ?

As I understand it, he's living with his Mum (or was, until the boys in blue got their hands on him!). That should help his money stretch a bit further.

 

[EM2]

This is going to be very unpopular, but I was on a train waiting at a signal into LST on Thursday, and we were right by a large piece of graffiti by ASTRO.
Up close, it was quite interesting to see how the shading and highlights had been done. It was rather impressive.

 

[12CSVT]

As I understand it, he's living with his Mum (or was, until the boys in blue got their hands on him!). That should help his money stretch a bit further.

That probably explains it. And no doubt mummy thinks he just a good little boy.

 

[90019]

His campaign of attacks stretched over 10 years and included railway infrastructure across the country, rolling stock, buses and (as if to prove what a complete tosspot he is) a funeral home.

There's no way TOX is a single person, but it's good to know someone's in prison for some of it.

 

[BestWestern]

This is going to be very unpopular, but I was on a train waiting at a signal into LST on Thursday, and we were right by a large piece of graffiti by ASTRO.
Up close, it was quite interesting to see how the shading and highlights had been done. It was rather impressive.

I agree that some of this illicit 'art' is actually to a relatively high standard, clearly created by individuals with some degree of skill. But reagrdless it isn't welcome when it is defacing our railways, no matter how intricate it may sometimes be. It's sad that these people demonstrate no interest in using their abilites in a constructive way.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

And where is the deterrent for others with that sentence.
Yes, lets let him work on the railway so he can learn more about the workings of it. So when he is finished he can start all over again.
Maybe while he is in prison he can think about the stupidness of his crimes, not to mention the danger

He's been jailed before. That obviously didn't work...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

There's no way TOX is a single person, but it's good to know someone's in prison for some of it.

It is a single person. It's someone called Daniel Halpin, and has been doing it since 2001. There have been a few copycats, but he is the actual TOX.

 

[WestCoast]

I agree that some of this illicit 'art' is actually to a relatively high standard, clearly created by individuals with some degree of skill. But reagrdless it isn't welcome when it is defacing our railways, no matter how intricate it may sometimes be. It's sad that these people demonstrate no interest in using their abilites in a constructive way.

I tend to agree with that sentiment. The tags like TOX are just ugly though and can in no way be considered as art.

People with artisitc skill should express that in a legal way, and they could perhaps make some money out of it in the process!

 

[Mike395]

Whilst I quite like the intricate graffiti from some 'artists' (although not where it's done illegally with the exception of art in good taste such as a majority of Banksy's) - I'm delighted to hear Tox has been caught - it's not like he has much imagination, just signing and dating where he graffitis rather than actually making an effort!

 

[jon0844]

Tox tags were pointless, but it has spawned loads of clones. I regularly drew TOX nn on things when it was frosty/snowy weather (so just using my finger and leaving no permanent marks) and I've seen it written on the back of vans - again, with no permanent damage having been drawn in dirt.

I think TOX was the most recognisable, hence the appeal of copycat tags - no doubt some of them being done with paint. I would say that it's 99% certain people will continue tagging for TOX 11 and TOX 12 for when he's inside.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Of course, if you're willing for your taxes to go up to pay for keeping more prisoners. We'll have to build more prisons - perhaps one near you?

I thought that he had received a prison sentence....or did I misread the thread posted by the OP. So I should imagine he would be sent to an existing prison. I hope that you are not evaluating taxation as being not for funding such establishments...are you suggesting a new method of finance to run the prison service, such as the National Lottery?

In our area, we already have an established prison at HMP Manchester and a relatively new custom built unit in the land area of the site of Agecroft Colliery land, so I think that we are well covered in that respect. But thank you for asking and for considering the prison requirements of this part of North-West England.

 

[AlexS]

He's been jailed before. That obviously didn't work...

So what do you do if nothing works? If in 20 years he's still bobbing around doing his horrible little sketches? Say 'well, we've tried, he's got rights, we'll just keep paying to bang him up or get him to wash some bins'?

There are some cases where I feel a reasonably safe '5 strikes and we throw you off the cliffs at Dover to feed the fish' would be appropriate.

I know people who have been convicted of upwards of 20-30 offences and still they wander around, doing it again and again. There's no way to actually force them to stop.

 

[jon0844]

Prison may cost a fortune, but for every day he's inside he isn't outside tagging and costing even more money.

Okay, so there's the copycat factor and people who will want to carry on his work, but for the most part - he's no longer costing all of us money. Even if the two costs cancel themselves out, I know I'd be happier with him inside.

The problem with him is that being able to tag things isn't exactly up there with drawing things that may be illegal, but could be channeled into something legal and productive. I do wonder exactly what he could do. Hopefully while he is inside, they'll be trying to find out and try to give him a direction to follow.

 

[SS4]

Killing him will be the only certain way to prevent him re-offending but do we really want to kill someone for tagging railway property?

If I were him I'd give him some menial job to do - perhaps clearing litter off the canal towpath or clean up a station wearing a sandwich board detailing his crimes for example. Naming and shaming too like LM (used) to do with fare evaders.


The problem isn't the graffiti as much as the effect it has on legitimate railway travellers. Graffiti makes a place seem more dangerous and less welcoming than it ought to be.

 

[jon0844]

Killing him would seem rather OTT. However, I believe in the 'three strikes' system, so if he offended again and was up before a judge a third time - then I wouldn't think a life sentence would necessarily be over the top.

I am not sure anyone ever suggested the death penalty as an option. Personally, I'd rather pay to keep someone locked up for life than give someone the easy way out. And at least with the locking up option, there's a chance of an appeal or release if new evidence came to light.

 

[SS4]

Killing him would seem rather OTT. However, I believe in the 'three strikes' system, so if he offended again and was up before a judge a third time - then I wouldn't think a life sentence would necessarily be over the top.

I am not sure anyone ever suggested the death penalty as an option. Personally, I'd rather pay to keep someone locked up for life than give someone the easy way out. And at least with the locking up option, there's a chance of an appeal or release if new evidence came to light.

Agreed, I was just stating that it's the only sure way to stop reoffending and I would hope nobody seriously suggested it.

 

[tony_mac]

There's a reasonably detailed (Daily Mail) article about his past.

He has been fined, had community service orders and ASBOs before, but was never jailed (other than an overnight for non-payment of a fine).
Hopefully he will take it a bit more seriously now.

 

[jon0844]

There's a reasonably detailed (Daily Mail) article about his past.

It is horrible sitting on a train and looking over to see something written that serves no purpose and borders on mindless vandalism. The content of which makes people feel uncomfortable about their surroundings and instills fear in everyone.

And, even though TOX and others are now in jail, the harsh reality is that I am still likely to be unfortunate enough to stumble upon a copy of the Daily Mail on trains in the future.