A NEWSAGENT who caught youths covering his kiosk with graffiti says the law is "too soft" after they were let off with just a warning.

Tony Ellis has been running his shop in Bickley station for 19 years and says graffiti and vandalism is a constant problem.

The 53-year-old arrived to open up for business and found his shutters daubed with fresh spray paint.

The station platforms and stairs had also been sprayed and three youths were holding spray cans in the station.

Mr Ellis called the police, who arrived 20 minutes later at 4.50am.

Later that morning, he was informed two of the youths had been caught, one of which still had a spray can on him.

But Mr Ellis, of Widmore Road, Bromely, says he is furious after learning the youths were let off with just a warning.

He said: "I caught these children red-handed but they do not appear to have to face the consequences.

"The law is much too soft these days. You have to be firm with youngsters otherwise they just carry on and keep coming back.

"It will cost me £100 to have my shutters cleaned. These children have made me look like a mug and they can just walk off laughing.

"I want them to come and clean the whole bloody lot off and make them look like the mugs."

British Transport Police's (BTP) policy with juveniles is to issue a reprimand for a first offence, a warning for a second one and press charges if a third offence is committed.

The youths in question had both already received reprimands and will face charges if they are caught offending again.

A BTP spokesman said: "Because they are juveniles this is the system we have to work within. It is understandable Mr Ellis is frustrated and thinks not enough is being done but this is the process we have to take."

Mr Ellis said: "There are too many ways to get around the law.

"Even if they had gone to court I doubt much would have happened.

"I want to see the magistrates take a harder line with these children.

"We need harder laws and heavier sentences."