A YOUNG New Zealander who came to Australia to escape gang involvement has been fined $2000 after graffiti tagging buildings and cars in Dennington.
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Bobby Toka, 21, of McGregors Road, Warrnambool, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court to making a threat to kill, possessing a graffiti implement and four counts of causing criminal damage.
Magistrate John Lesser said that graffiti caused a high cost to the community and if someone had tagged Toka’s vehicle, the accused would be upset.
He said he understood Toka had been intoxicated at the time of the offending but if he came back to court for similar offending a term of imprisonment would be considered.
Police said that in the early hours of August 31 graffiti was painted on a fence, buildings and vehicles in Dennington.
Police located Toka and another man near the Dennington Primary School and Toka dropped a spray-paint can. The other man ran off and Toka was arrested. It was observed that he had paint on his fingers.
Toka later threatened to kill a police sergeant and strongly denied being involved in the tags.