Speed camera vandals plead guilty
Two men who vandalised more than 20 speed cameras after one of them was fined for speeding, have been given 200 hours community service each.

Roy Robotham, 19, and Benjamin Taylor, 20, daubed black and white paint on 22 camera lenses along a stretch of the A51 in Staffordshire earlier this year.

Taylor told police he did it "out of frustration, propaganda and stupidity".

Magistrates in Cannock also ordered the pair to each pay more than £1,000 in compensation and £30 costs.

False claim

Sara Beddow, prosecuting, told the court that Taylor, a clerical worker, had been disgruntled about receiving a speeding fine.

They were each charged with causing £2,283 worth of damage to cameras on two occasions between March 10 and April 29.

The pair, who were living together in a flat in Horsefair, Rugeley, were arrested in May after telling a neighbour what they had done.

The men each pleaded guilty to six counts of criminal damage on the road between Rugeley and Sandon and asked for 16 other offences to be taken into consideration.

Robotham, who is currently unemployed, also admitted one separate count of dangerous driving and was disqualified for 12 months.

In an unconnected incident, Taylor also pleaded guilty to failing to report an accident and making a false insurance claim.

For that incident he was disqualified from driving for six months and ordered to pay an additional £4,196 in compensation.

When I'm driving I prefer to look at the road rather than my speedo, cameras are just another way for the police/government to make money and it's been shown that the number of accidents/fatalities (can't remember which) hasn't changed at all since cameras were introduced, but the amount of money the government earns from fines has skyrocketed...


My 2 pence worth...

Pete

The neighbour better watch out


I would prefer to see them out side schools.

[Edited on 3/9/04 by subk2002]

In Holland and Belgium the measures taken against speed camera's are a bit more drastic.
An old car tire is filled with petrol draped around the camera and a match does the rest!
It seems to be VERY effective.

thats still 100% for the 1st choice.......

Arson is also classed as a very serious offence in Britain and has resulted in custodial sentences on several occasions. Similar offences viewed as pranks by some, like blowing up post boxes with serious fireworks, are also viewed very dimly by the judiciary. Anything involving the destruction of public property,even stuff we don't like, eventually comes out of our pocket one way or another. I'm not voting because the two are obviously bad examples as they sound like a pair of assholes of the first order, blabbing about their exploits instead of keeping schtum.

I did hear that spray grease is very effective - and doesn't cause any permanent damage.

One of the max power mags this month has a piece of car which is remarkably similar in size to the camera lens part of the gatso, although it is not designed to be used to cover it up of course

arson and explosives are likely to get a prison sentance. Simply causing criminal damage with a saw or paint or whatever is the way to keep your freedom I think....

atb

steve