A 34-year-old graffiti artist who caused thousands of pounds of damage to buildings in Bolton town centre has been given a suspended sentence.

Anil Kika, aged 34, of Highworth Close, Deane, had pleaded guilty to 10 counts of criminal damage at Bolton Magistrates' Court.

He was today sentenced at Bolton Crown Court to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years, ordered to pay £2,000 costs and damages and carry out 120 hours community work.

Kika admitted spray-painting the word 'Zone' on various signs, walls and buildings across Bolton town centre earlier this year.

He was captured on CCTV which was given to Bolton Council and police who worked in partnership to identify Kika and arrested him.

He was charged with 10 counts of criminal damage that in total caused almost £4,500 worth of damage. He also admitted to police that he was responsible for about another 20 occasions where he had sprayed the word 'Zone', which had caused about £3,400 worth of damage.

Chief Insp Phil Unsworth said: "Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council had to spend thousands of pounds and use specialist industrial cleansing equipment to clean up after Kika's graffiti which began to appear over a period of about five months earlier this year and blight the town centre of Bolton.

"It is with the help of the public that Kika was identified. This goes to show how essential community involvement is in the fight against crime."