Graffiti artist facing prison over ‘tag’ spree

A PROLIFIC graffiti artist is facing jail after admitting a string of vandalism charges, racking up almost £7,000 of damage.

Picture: Police Scotland

Ryan Gilhooly, 18, left his “tag” all over Glasgow, including at various train stations, inside trains and at Bearsden Academy.

The teenager sprayed “RAIO” and “CHS” – which stands for Causing Havoc Squad – in a spate of incidents between September 2012 and December 2013.

Specialist teams had to be called in to clean it off.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Gilhooly, from the Knightswood area of the city, admitted 18 charges, including eight of maliciously damaging various places using spray paint, three of using a marker pen and seven breaches of bail by entering stations and trains when instructed not to.

Among the places where Gilhooly spray-painted his “tag” were a shelter at Drumchapel train station, a wall at Partick station, a van at Yoker rail depot and an underpass and wall at Hyndland station.

Defence lawyer Matthew Berlow said that, according to expert Colin Saycell, graffiti could become an addiction.

Sheriff Bill Totten deferred sentence on Gilhooly until next month.