Bike thief Peter Lowe spray painted his name and smiley face on wall at Holkham Holiday Park

A 65-year-old found himself in court after spray painting his name and a ‘smiley face’ on a holiday park wall.

Peter Lowe, of no fixed address, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he admitted criminal damage at Holkham Holiday Park.

He also admitted visiting Wells on March 11, despite being banned from doing so.

During the hearing, Lowe was additionally sentenced for stealing two bikes in Norwich.

The court heard that Lowe was seen on March 11 spray painting the word “Pete” alongside a “smiley face” on the wall of the Holkham holiday campsite.

Prior to vandalising the wall, he sprayed a bike with the paint.

The holiday park owners estimated the damage cost them £103.20 to repair.

Later that day, Lowe was seen sitting in a car park in Wells.

He was previously banned from entering the town following previous offences.

Lowe was soon arrested and taken in for questioning. He had spent some time in custody before his court hearing.

He had committed a total of 80 previous offences.

In mitigation, duty solicitor George Sorrell told the court that Lowe “lost his family” due to “unhappy circumstances”, which led to his offending.

Mr Sorrell said: “Some time ago, he was a family man with three children.

“He was a motorcycle mechanic who had his own shop, but that did not work out.

“Now at 65, he relies on benefits and is homeless. He plans to sleep in an abandoned campervan tonight.”

Magistrates considered Lowe’s time in custody a sufficient punishment for breaching his ban from Wells.

He was ordered to pay a total of £723.20 in compensation to cover the spray paint damage as well as the price of the two bikes he stole.