Street art by Sprite and Snub23, a couple, has been repeatedly vandalised with the trademark sign of Ben Eine over the past five months.
Mr Eine, best known for his alphabet lettering on shop shutters and having his work gifted to Barack Obama, admitted defacing the art after the pair told street art festivals about his previous conviction for assaulting his then-girlfriend in 2018.
“I believe in accountability, growth, and second chances. I take full responsibility for my past actions and remain committed to personal improvement and positive contributions to my community.”
In July 2018, Eine pleaded guilty to assault by beating and criminal damage.
Media outlets at the time reported that Eine punched his then-girlfriend during a row at the Serpentine Sackler Gallery in London.
Eine was issued with a community order.
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Brighton street artist’s work given by David Cameron to Barack Obama
Sprite, who wishes to conceal her real name, has painted in Brighton for many years.
Last year, she noticed that Eine was beginning to participate in street art events again.
She said: “Knowing he would be there made me feel very uncomfortable and worry about how it would affect victims of abuse.”
She said she contacted event organisers to let them know about his conviction and “say that I felt it was inappropriate for him to take part”.
She added: “Nothing happened and he still came to events, but somehow the information that I had spoken to organisers got back to him. That’s when he started destroying mine and my partner’s work.”
This has included, Sprite claimed, vandalism of a mural in a carpark by White Cross Street on four occasions; one in Trafalgar Lane twice; one on the back of Barclays bank in North Street three or four times, one in Bagelman on King Place “at least three or four times” and one by the side of the St James’s Street Co-op once.
She said: “The last few weeks we have been repairing things two to three times a week.
“He even travelled to South End to deface some of our work there and videoed himself doing it which he uploaded to social media before deleting it.
“He is going to all kinds of crazy lengths to make our lives hell.
“Back in October I sent him a very long message saying it is very unfair of him to not expect people to have an opinion on his reintroduction to public events.
“It affects the community – a lot is commissioned by businesses and paid for by them.
“We make this art to improve the town so to have it all scribbled out is frustrating.”
“For the past three years, I have been committed to my recovery, attending local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and sponsoring others who are struggling with addiction.
“My focus has been on maintaining my sobriety, improving my mental health, and making amends where possible. I know that nothing can undo the past, but I have also sought to give back by volunteering with charities to help others.”
Mr Eine claimed to have tried and failed to “have a direct conversation” about this with Snub23.
“I believe in accountability, growth, and second chances. I take full responsibility for my past actions and remain committed to personal improvement and positive contributions to my community.”
Mr Eine has worked with graffiti artist Banksy in the past.
In July 2010, then US President Barack Obama was presented with one of his paintings as an official gift from the British prime minister, David Cameron.
It is known that he was favoured by David Cameron’s wife, Samantha.
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