The 45-year-old appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after pleading guilty to five graffiti charges, possessing implements and possessing cannabis.
It did not take much detective work to pin October’s tagging spree on Ngatai.
He left a trail of evidence wherever he went.
And police caught the eponymous mischief-maker in the act in Princes St.
They collared him in Rattray St after a short chase.
Officers found three cans of spray paint, three liquid chalk pens and 1.1g of cannabis on Ngatai.
A few weeks later, he defaced the Dunedin Musicians Club building in Manse St.
His explanation was somewhat curious.
"The defendant stated he didn’t know what else to do with the spray paint," a police summary said.
The court heard during Ngatai’s initial vandalism rampage he had written his name on a piece of street art — a mural of a deep-sea diver on what was formerly Sammy’s nightclub.
The cost of erasing the "Shane" was estimated at $5000 and counsel Kelly Beazley said her client had apologised to the Dunedin City Council at a restorative justice meeting.
Ngatai was keen to put things right and offered to contribute $1000 to the restoration.
He had also spent three days working with Taskforce Green, helping to beautify the city.
Judge Mark Callaghan imposed a sentence of 80 hours’ community work in the hope Ngatai could continue with those endeavours.
"This has not only affected the council but it affects everybody in Dunedin," the judge said.
"It seems to me you’re trying to be positive and that in itself is a bit of a turnaround for you."
Ngatai was ordered to pay the $1000 reparation at $20 a week.
Judge Callaghan made an order for destruction of the graffiti implements.
