A 60-year-old man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to criminal damage for spraying paint on an ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) camera in south-east London. Stephen Nunn faced his charges at Bromley Magistrates’ Court, where the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) presented the case.

Nunn was handed a 12-month community order that includes 100 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he was ordered to pay £349.78 in compensation to Transport for London (TfL), the operator of ULEZ.

The incident occurred on 27 October when Nunn was apprehended by police while defacing the ULEZ camera on Hayes Lane, Bromley. He ingeniously used a makeshift tool composed of a long pole and a trigger mechanism with string to spray white paint on the camera.

Following his arrest, a search of Nunn’s home revealed anti-ULEZ posters and stickers, suggesting a premeditated act against the emission zone scheme.

Prosecutor Alza Rashed remarked on the case, highlighting that Nunn’s attempt to avoid detection by damaging the camera at night while dressed in black was unsuccessful due to the prompt action of police officers. Rashed emphasized that such acts of vandalism against ULEZ cameras would lead to prosecution whenever legal thresholds are met.

The expansion of ULEZ across London on 29 August has seen an increase in vandalism against its cameras. These cameras employ automatic number plate recognition technology to identify vehicles that do not comply with minimum emissions standards. Drivers within the ULEZ area are charged a £12.50 daily fee for non-compliant vehicles.

In the seven months following the ULEZ expansion, police recorded almost 1,000 crimes linked to the theft or vandalism of these cameras.

Nunn’s sentencing serves as a reminder of the consequences of such vandalism and the commitment of law enforcement agencies to uphold environmental regulations designed to reduce emissions and improve air quality in London