Alleged creator of prolific ‘Pam the Bird’ graffiti in Melbourne has endangered the public, court told | Victoria

A Melbourne man alleged to be the creator of the prolific “Pam the Bird” graffiti has been endangering the public by abseiling from buildings and risking the lives of people below, a court has heard during his bail application.

Jack Gibson-Burrell, 21, faced the Melbourne magistrates court on Tuesday via video link, after he was charged last week with 50 offences, including criminal damage, burglary and shop theft. Police allege Gibson-Burrell’s vandalism included spray painting the Flinders Street station clock with the signature cartoon-like bird, and had caused more than $100,000 worth of damage.

Police argued Gibson-Burrell and a co-accused, Matthew Raoul White, 39, of Abbotsford, faced an unacceptable risk if they were released on bail.

Magistrate Johanna Metcalf was expected to make a decision on the pair’s bail on Wednesday morning.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Sen Const Scott Nicholls said police had serious concerns about the dangerous and costly nature of Gibson-Burrell’s offending.

He told the court that Gibson-Burrell was endangering the public beneath him during “high-level graffiti stunts”.

“All it will take is one slip, one piece of equipment to break … to seriously injure or kill someone,” he said.

Nicholls told the court police had spent more than 200 hours following Gibson-Burrell, while more than 100 hours of CCTV footage had been gathered during the investigation.

He said Gibson-Burrell would continue to offend if granted bail, and that he had a tendency towards violence when challenged by police.

“The accused’s offending is escalating in severity and will continue to do so,” he told the court.

“He simply does not care.”

He said if Gibson-Burrell was not granted bail, he could face up to 18 months behind bars before the case would be heard in the county court.

Gibson-Burrell’s lawyer, Jonathan Miller disputed Nicholls’ argument that Gibson-Burrell was risking the lives of members of the public below buildings, noting that some of the alleged offending occurred at Docklands, which was quiet at night.

He said his client could reside with his grandmother in East Geelong while on bail.

Earlier, Nicholls outlined several offences police allege Gibson-Burrell committed, including vandalising the Novotel hotel building in South Wharf this month.

At about 1am on 20 January, police allege Gibson-Burrell used a wire hook tool to open the fire entry of the hotel before climbing to the 27th level, the court heard.

He then allegedly accessed the rooftop and abseiled from there to graffiti the “distinct bird”, Nicholls said.

“Police operators then observed him drive back to his home address,” he said.

The damage from the Novotel hotel was estimated to be worth $36,000, Nicholls said.

The court also heard White’s alleged offending had resulted in criminal damage estimated to be worth $11,300.

Sen Const Michael McCartney said White resided at a paint shop and described him as a key player in Melbourne’s graffiti subculture. He said White had a history of breaching bail.

White’s lawyer, Jonathan Barreiro, said a significant portion of the prosecution’s case against his client relied on footage of his “distinctive clothing” – a black Kathmandu jacket and Adidas tracksuit pants.

“Possibly the most ubiquitous pieces of clothing available,” he said.

Police arrested Gibson-Burrell and White on Thursday last week before charging the pair.