A GRAFFITI artist has vowed never to stop despite being caught by police and hauled before the courts.

Jordan Rose was caught writing his tag name “Jenga” on lampposts and a junction box in Meyrick Park Cresent and Charminster Road in Bournemouth – and told police he was ashamed of what he’d done when arrested.

The 19-year-old was given a year-long conditional discharge but said he will carry on writing graffiti as he loves it and wants more “legal” walls to be provided so he can do so legally.

The teenager lives at the YMCA Delta House hostel in Westover Road and told the Daily Echo he is among a group who do it in the town, including Polish nationals.

“I’m never going to stop doing graffiti because I love it,” he said.

“It’s annoying because there are so many talented people in Bournemouth and there’s not really anywhere to do it.”

The teenager grew up locally and said he enjoys practising it legally at the Fusion Youth Centre in Old Christchurch Lane, behind Old Christchurch Road.

“But we need a place where we can have an atmosphere instead of an alleyway,” he added.

He says he would love to teach art to youngsters one day and explained there are different types of graffiti from European to “aggressive” and experimental styles.

At Bournemouth Magistrates Court prosecutor Heather Jackson said Rose was spotted writing his “tag” name “Jenga” on posts and a junction box with a marker pen by plain clothes police officers on Wednesday, February 29.

He told police he felt “ashamed” and had let himself down.

At court, Rose admitted damaging three items of public street furniture without lawful excuse. The court was told he previously committed criminal damage and had an outstanding £25 court debt.

Magistrate Anne Ketteringham ordered him to pay that debt and £50 in compensation to Bournemouth Borough Council for the cleaning cost of the junction box, ordering it to be deducted from his benefits.

“It’s a very stupid thing that you did,” she said.