Dartford’s Postbox Picasso Dodges Prison for Colourful Vandalism Spree
A Banksy wannabe has escaped jail after turning nearly 40 Dartford postboxes into a wild splash of colours and quirky designs. Danny Whiskin, 33, took it upon himself to ditch the traditional red for a riot of pinks, yellows, and even gold—featuring cheeky tributes to Mr Blobby and Cadbury’s Creme Egg.
Scooter-Borne Spray Artist Busted on Camera
Whiskin carried out his sneaky art raids under cover of darkness, buzzing around Dartford on his scooter armed with spray cans. His spree came to an end when a passer-by caught him red-handed in Sycamore Road and handed footage straight to the police. A subsequent raid uncovered spray cans and clothing matching the video evidence.
Royal Mail Faces £5,700 Repair Bill, But No Jail Time
The likes of Royal Mail first clocked the vandalism on February 5, after 15 postboxes were targeted. Despite Whiskin being caught and bailed, he carried on spraying more boxes with flamboyant designs—leading to a second arrest in April.
Facing court, Whiskin admitted criminal damage costing over £5,000. Yet judges opted for leniency, handing him an 18-month community order instead of jail. Factors such as his mental health struggles and difficult upbringing swayed the decision.
Whiskin’s Punishment: Community Service & Compensation
- 18-month community order
- Mandatory mental health and rehabilitation programmes
- 100 hours of unpaid work
- £2,600 compensation to Royal Mail plus £114 victim surcharge
- Monthly repayment plan of £20 due to financial hardship
Whiskin may have dodged a prison sentence, but his colourful escapades have cost him a heavy price—and left Dartford’s postboxes looking anything but ordinary.
