Two graffiti vandals who despoiled years of work on the district’s steam railways have been sentenced to 250 hours of unpaid work.

The judge today branded the pair arrogant and hoped they would be given “the most appalling tasks to perform”.

He told Jake Gardiner, 21, and Joe Layfield, 19: “You imposed your graffiti on others. It is crime, not art.

“You ruined years of work and caused a lot of anger and upset.”

Gardiner and Layfield pleaded guilty at Bradford Crown Court last month to criminal damage running into thousands of pounds on rolling stock.

Gardiner, of Morris Grove, Leeds, and Layfield, of Tinshill Lane, Cookridge, Leeds, admitted damaging an electric diesel unit belonging to Northern Rail at Bradford on April 25 last year.

Layfield pleaded guilty to damaging a diesel multiple unit belonging to Yorkshire Dales Railway in Embsay, near Skipton, and damaging carriages belonging to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. Gardiner admitted damaging carriages at Embsay and Oxenhope.

Layfield asked the court to take into consideration 14 further offences totalling £6,135 damage and Gardiner 13 offences totalling £13,950.

Prosecutor Paul Nicholson said volunteers on the preserved steam railway lines must have been deeply upset to see what had been done to their “pride and joy”.

Mr Nicholson said Gardiner used the tags “Clone” and “VIP”. He asked the police for copies of their photographs of his handiwork, saying they were much better than the ones he had taken himself.

The court heard Layfield was studying art at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Both now thought their behaviour wrong and stupid, their barrister Sarah Barlow told the court.

The judge, Recorder Richard Sheldon, said each was a skilled artist who had abused his talents. The offences were non-violent and the pair were actively involved in community work. He imposed a weekend curfew on each for three months. He made no order for compensation, saying it was unrealistic.

After the case Stephen Walker, of the Yorkshire Dales Railway at Embsay, said: “It will make others realise that this is not something trivial but a serious offence and there is a danger of being severely punished.

“And it is right that they have been made to put something back into the community.”

Jim Shipley, of Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, said: “It sends a clear message that this is not acceptable, not just by the railway like us but by the public at large and that offences like this will receive tough punishment.”