Community work for 'ugly' train graffiti

Two Melbourne men have been ordered to do hundreds of hours of community work to make up for "ugly" graffiti attacks on dozens of train carriage across the city.

Leo Hocking, 35, and Brayden Constantini, 20, filmed and took stills of their tagging, which was what eventually got them caught.

Their damage cost Metro Trains $31,435 and Bombardier $2112 to clean and repair.

Both men pleaded guilty to intentionally causing criminal damage and trespass - Hocking to 157 charges and Constantini, 79.

County Court Judge Michael O'Connell ordered the pair to complete hundreds of hours of community work for the graffiti, which included the slogans GURL, ROKS and TIMR.

"This has nothing to do with artistic talent," the judge said.

"Rather, the contrary. You repeatedly rendered important public assets ugly."

Hocking, who has been jailed for tagging trains since the offending, had received a "wake up call", the court heard.

Judge O'Connell said had he not received that sentence he'd have had no problem handing down another for the offending between July 2017 and July 2018.

Instead he ordered the man to complete 440 hours of community work as part of a three-and-a-half year community corrections order.

He suggested it would be fitting that he restore graffiti-affected public assets as part of that.

Hocking will also have a 9pm to 6am curfew for the next six months.

Constantini's offending was over a shorter period from September 2017 to July 2018.

He was ordered to complete 200 hours of community work.

The men were caught when an off duty police officer found a camera with footage of them tagging trains.

A protective services officer also found a camera with footage.

Search warrants on their homes uncovered more photos, videos and texts planning their attacks.

Hocking was ordered to pay $23,207 for his share of the clean-up bill.

Constantini must pay $10,340 for his share.