Taggers were jailed and ordered to pay over £6,000 in compensation for defacing trains and station buildings in Sutton.

They caused a total of £67,000 of damage in Belmont and surrounding areas between November 2006 and July 2007.

The youths called themselves the WDS' crew, which stands for 'We don't sleep.'

CCTV images captured two of the youths spraying graffiti around Belmont station and the trio were arrested in the summer after being found with spray cans in their rucksacks along with plastic gloves, a digital camera, camera phones and a variety of spray nozzles.

Police then went to their homes, seizing personal computers, computer disks, external hard drives and paper showing practice drawings of their tags.

The youths pleaded guilty to a total of 28 offences and between them had 221 offences taken into consideration at Sutton Youth Court on Tuesday, December 4.

A 16-year-old received a six months prison sentence and was ordered to pay £4,500 compensation and a 17-year-old was jailed for four months and ordered to pay £2,000.

They were released on bail pending an appeal against their sentences.

Another 17-year-old got a six months referral order and must pay £150 compensation.

They each received a three year ASBO preventing them from further acts of graffiti.

PC Carpenter who led the investigation alongside Sergeant John McClelland from Belmont Safer Neighbourhood Team and the British Transport Police said they were determined to catch them.

Chief Inspector Dave Gair, from the Safer Sutton Partnership Service, said, "Graffiti is a crime - let the penalties imposed in this case serve as a warning to others."