Wellington artist convicted for mural on Maupuia water tower

An artist who spray painted a mural on a Wellington water tower has been convicted for wilful damage because he didn't get permission to do it.

Jasper Vincent created the 5m x 1m mural on the Maupuia water towers on January 15, the Wellington District Court heard this morning.

The towers are property of the Wellington Regional Council.

"He was told by friends it was a good plan to do such a thing," the police prosecutor said.

The 24-year-old's lawyer said he "sees himself as an artist rather than somebody who was wilfully damaging anything".

He made the mural in the afternoon, she said.

"It wasn't a covert, overnight incident."

Vincent wanted to clean up the mural himself, she said.

The judge said Vincent had previous convictions, but they were of a different nature to this one.

Vincent was convicted of wilful damage and sentenced to 40 hours of community work.