Newcastle Graffiti Professor Sentenced

A university professor's been ordered to pay £28,000 compensation for scratching bizarre graffiti on cars in Newcastle while he was dressed in his underpants and a suit jacket.

City and society expert Stephen Graham had mixed alcohol with medication when he attacked 27 cars in the leafy suburb of Jesmond last August. 

He used a screwdriver to scratch the words ``very silly'', ``really wrong'' and ``arbitrary'' onto cars, among other messages. 

Judge Guy Whitburn at Newcastle Crown Court accepted his behaviour was totally out of character but said the compensation - effectively the 48-year-old professor and his wife's life savings - must be paid in full. 

The judge suspended a nine month jail sentence for a year.