A prolific graffiti vandal has been slapped with a five year anti-social behaviour order after defacing dozens of historic monuments during a ‘mindless’ tagging spree.
Last summer police were inundated with reports from residents and shop owners after the JAKA tag was scrawled across homes, businesses, bus shelters and even historic landmarks across Chester, Ellesmere Port and the Wirral.
The clean-up is thought to have cost businesses and Cheshire West and Chester Council thousands of pounds after the tag was inked across listed buildings and monuments including Chester Cathedral and the historic Rows.
But on Tuesday, Jami Kaysen, 33, was ordered to pay just £1,156 in compensation to cover the damage caused by the pointless crime, which saw her write her nickname on anything she fancied.
Kaysen, who is currently undergoing a sex change, admitted she didn't regard her inking as ‘a work of art’ but believed it was ‘harmless’ as the city was already brimming with advertisements.
She also didn't remember exactly where she had ‘tagged' and how many places she had damaged as she had been drinking because she was depressed.
Kaysen, who travelled in to the city by train from her home in Bromborough in Wirral, targeted Chester while she was studying at the college.
Kaysen was made subject to a criminal ASBO banning her from carrying any items used in the production of graffiti anywhere in England and Wales for the next five years.
She was sentenced to an 18 month community order and failed to speak as she was made subject to an alcohol requirement and supervision order.
Dressed in a black leather jacket and wearing heavy ‘gothic’ makeup the JAKA graffiti vandal nodded from the dock as she was told she would have to wear an electronic tag as part of a three month curfew, which will see her confined to her grandfather's home between 7pm-7am for the next three months.
Kaysen pleaded guilty to four counts of criminal damage across Chester city centre and asked for 33 similar offences to be taken into consideration at a hearing earlier this year.
The court heard how police launched a public appeal in August after the 'tags' reading JAKA or DAKA appeared on monuments, electricity boxes, bus stops and listed buildings across the city.
CCTV was released to the media of Kaysen sprawling the graffiti on the historic Rows while eating a pasty. She was eventually apprehended by officers on December 7 in Abbey Gate Square, Chester - a listed building she had earlier targeted.
When police searched her home they discovered large quantities of JAKA stickers - spotted on bus stops and electricity boxes across the city - alongside pens and inks used to create graffiti.
It is not known exactly how many places were targeted by Kaysen, but Clare House Hospice on Frodsham Street was left footing an almost £300 bill after their sign was defaced with the nickname last August.
Other victims include Chester Cathedral, Morrisons supermarket, The City of Chester Club, Queen’s School on Liverpool Road.
“She has told me she will not commit any offence like this again,” said Stephen Ferns, defending, saying his client had mental health issues and was agoraphobic.
“She wishes to put all this offending behind her. She will not be damaging any more property.”
