PRSC chairman, Chris Chalkley was arrested by two plain clothes police officers on 24th September, and was charged with the following;

“That between 28/08/09 and 01/01/09 at St. James Barton roundabout in the City of Bristol without lawful excuse damaged 5102 Appartments to the value of between £150 and £200 belonging to Peverel Oak Management Ltd intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged CONTRARY TO SECTIONS 1(1) AND 4 OF THE CRIMINAL DAMAGE ACT 1971.

Mr. Chalkley readily agreed with the arresting officers, Ali Ross and Mark Reynolds, believed to be from the “Anti-Graffiti” team, that he had indeed placed the allegedly offending sign on the building, having taken great care to do so to the best of his ability. On surrendering the stencil, he asked the arresting officers to take good care of it. He was taken to Trinity Road Police Station, where he was photographed , fingerprinted and his DNA was taken for police records.

Whilst accepting that he had painted the sign, Mr Chalkley pleades not guilty to criminal damage. The court date was set for 9.15 am on 9th October.

Explaining his position later, Mr. Chalkley said,

“For the last three years now, PRSC has been working to improve the neglected area of Stokes Croft. There is real and tangible evidence of this proactive strategy having a positive effect on our local community. The painting of this sign was part of this process. I could not plead guilty to this charge, because it is my honest belief that the act was a positive one, seeking to improve the area, thereby benefitting everybody in Stokes Croft.”

Declining to say more, Mr Chalkley stated that he will mount a robust defence of his actions in court, the date set being 9th October at 9.15 am.

Two coats of Dulux Masonry paint were applied to the surface. The frame was executed with the greatest care.The stencil was applied using black aerosol. The “Stoke’s Croft” lettering was taken from a 19th Century playbill, found during research at the City Records Office.