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| Newcastle professor Stephen Graham to pay for graffiti spree | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A university professor has been ordered to pay £28,000 compensation for scratching cars while dressed in his underpants and a suit jacket. | A university professor has been ordered to pay £28,000 compensation for scratching cars while dressed in his underpants and a suit jacket. |
| Stephen Graham, 48, from Jesmond, Newcastle, admitted four counts of criminal damage in January. | Stephen Graham, 48, from Jesmond, Newcastle, admitted four counts of criminal damage in January. |
| He was given a nine month prison sentence, suspended for a year at Newcastle Crown Court. | He was given a nine month prison sentence, suspended for a year at Newcastle Crown Court. |
| Graham scratched the words "very silly", "really wrong" and "arbitrary" on 27 cars in Jesmond in August 2011. | Graham scratched the words "very silly", "really wrong" and "arbitrary" on 27 cars in Jesmond in August 2011. |
| 'Detached from reality' | 'Detached from reality' |
| Graham, who is based at Newcastle University's school of architecture, planning and landscape, had drunk alcohol mixed with medication before he caused £18,000 of damage to cars including a Mercedes, an Audi, a Volvo and a Mitsubishi. | Graham, who is based at Newcastle University's school of architecture, planning and landscape, had drunk alcohol mixed with medication before he caused £18,000 of damage to cars including a Mercedes, an Audi, a Volvo and a Mitsubishi. |
| The spree took place in Northumberland Gardens, a few streets away from where Graham lived in Lansdowne Gardens. | The spree took place in Northumberland Gardens, a few streets away from where Graham lived in Lansdowne Gardens. |
| A report by a forensic psychiatrist, Don Grubin, for the defence, found the professor was in a "dissociative state" when he scratched the cars, and was "detached from reality". | A report by a forensic psychiatrist, Don Grubin, for the defence, found the professor was in a "dissociative state" when he scratched the cars, and was "detached from reality". |
| Judge Guy Whitburn accepted his behaviour was totally out of character but said the compensation - effectively the professor and his wife's life savings - must be paid in full. | Judge Guy Whitburn accepted his behaviour was totally out of character but said the compensation - effectively the professor and his wife's life savings - must be paid in full. |
| He added he hoped Mr Graham would be able to resume his career. | He added he hoped Mr Graham would be able to resume his career. |
| Julian Smith, mitigating, said his client was not merely drunk, and he showed no signs of aggression when arrested, but had a bad reaction to the medication and alcohol. | Julian Smith, mitigating, said his client was not merely drunk, and he showed no signs of aggression when arrested, but had a bad reaction to the medication and alcohol. |
| A spokesperson for Newcastle University said: "We will be considering the matter through normal university procedures. We are unable to comment further on an individual employee." | A spokesperson for Newcastle University said: "We will be considering the matter through normal university procedures. We are unable to comment further on an individual employee." |