A PROLIFIC graffiti artist runs the risk of losing his council home if he continues to plaster walls and buildings in Grays town centre with his 'work.'

The 28-year-old man from Argent Street, Grays was identified and when later interviewed by Essex Police confessed to 18 offences of graffiti in the town between February and June 2020.

Thurrock Council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill said: "Following cross-partnership working, our Environment Enforcement Team and Housing and Cleansing Teams were able to join forces with Essex Police Towns Team as part of an extensive CCTV operation. This provided the evidence needed to identify the individual, who has since confessed to the offences and been issued with an Agreed Behavioural Contract.

"Under this contract, which is in place for two years, the individual has agreed not to act in an anti-social manner, commit no act of criminal damage and possess no articles concerning criminal damage.

"If he breaches this he will face being evicted, something the council has done before and will continue to seek to do in cases where council tenants are having such a negative impact on their local community as well as face further criminal damage charges.

"The graffiti 'tags' across the local area have caused both significant impact on the quality of life for local residents and created considerable cost for the tax payers, residents and businesses to clear.

"To be able to apprehend the person responsible is another great example of the council and police working hand in hand to keep our streets as clean and safe as possible; thank you to all officers involved."

• Thurrock Council currently imposes a 'strict' no conditions anti-littering policy that includes dropping cigarette butts and many people have been fined several hundreds of pounds for dropping cigarette butts or litter in the town centre area.