A man accused of being one of Australia’s most prominent graffiti artists has faced court after allegedly causing thousands of dollars worth of damage with his cartoon-like bird murals.
Jack Gibson-Burrell, 21, sat in the Melbourne Magistrates Court dock on Friday afternoon and smiled at times as the allegations against him were aired.
He was arrested on Thursday and charged with 50 offences, including criminal damage, burglary, shop theft and stealing a motor vehicle.
Senior Constable Scott Nicholls told the court Gibson-Burrell was behind the “Pam the Bird” graffiti that has been popping up on Melbourne trains, buildings and landmarks in the past year.
The cartoon-like bird has garnered media attention and a social media following of more than 70,000 people on an Instagram account run by Gibson-Burrell, the officer said.
He alleged the 21-year-old broke into train stations, abseiled off buildings and scaled heritage listed sites including the Flinders Street Station clock tower to spray-paint the bird.
The 21-year-old is also accused of punching a worker in the face at Emporium Melbourne, stealing multiple cars in Torquay and spray cans from Bunnings, and ramraiding a Nandos store in Footscray.
Gibson-Burrell was a notorious vandal and one of the country’s most prominent graffiti artists, Sen Const Nicholls said.
“It’s a certainty he will continue to offend at a high frequency in order to maintain his status,” the officer told the court in opposing bail.
It’s alleged Gibson-Burrell and co-accused Matthew Raoul White, 39, trespassed into Flinders Street Station on July 10, 2024.
The pair allegedly climbed an internal ladder network before abseiling from a balcony onto the clock tower and spray-painting Pam the Bird and the words, “my clock”.
It’s alleged the graffiti caused $24,000 worth of damage.
Sen Const Nicholls told the court Gibson-Burrell also abseiled from the roof of Channel Nine’s Melbourne headquarters to graffiti a bird on September 28, 2024.
He also allegedly scaled the “Cheese Stick” column on CityLink road on October 21, 2024, and spray painted graffiti, which caused $20,000 in damage.
The Newport Railway Workshop was allegedly targeted by Gibson-Burrell multiple times, while a train carrying passengers was intercepted about 11.55pm on October 30, 2024.
Police allege debris was thrown under the train stops, forcing it to brake, before Gibson-Burrell spray-painted a bird on the side of the carriage.
He was allegedly captured on CCTV wearing a Santa outfit during the offending.
Sen Const Nicholls claimed Gibson-Burrell had expressed violence and animosity to railway workers, noting the 21-year-old had allegedly sprayed a worker in the eye with paint in Queensland.
He was also found guilty in March 2023 of graffitiing Pam the Bird at Footscray Station but did not receive a conviction, the court was told.
Gibson-Burrell’s bail application was adjourned to Tuesday where further allegations will be aired and his lawyer will make submissions for bail.
White also applied for bail on Friday but the allegations against him will be detailed to the court on Tuesday.
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