Burley Banksy to stop painting street art after repeated vandalism and threatening messages near his home

Andy fears local graffiti taggers have a vendetta against him, and said the constant repair jobs were becoming too much.

The 50-year-old rose to fame with his Leeds United themed painted electrical boxes near Elland Road, which were also targeted by a separate group calling themselves Leeds Residents Against Graffiti.

But Andy had been brightening dull street furniture in Burley, where he lives, and Headingley for years before.

Andy, a teacher, said vandalism had always been a problem, but had increased over the past couple of weeks.

Graffiti tags over a joint mural he did in memory of a friend who took his own life were the final straw.

He wrote on social media: "This is me done with the street art, I'm afraid. Haven't got time or emotional energy to keep repairing them. Most get ruined.

"You'll never win against scumbags like these.

"Also getting abusive messages written about me on my street so they know where I live.

"Very unsettling and I'm concerned next stage is maybe damaging my van or house."

He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "It's becoming a full time job just to repair them - I have to earn a living.

"Are they jealous? I don't know. But if they want credit for what they do then they have to do something nice.

"You're not going to get credit for committing criminal damage."

Abusive messages aimed at Andy have been painted on murals near his home and even the street sign where he lives.

He has been in contact with the police and council but said they would struggle to provide support.

"It's keeping me up at night," he added. "I'm hearing a taxi at 4am and thinking it's these lads coming to smash my van windows or spray my house.

"I started doing this to improve my mental health but it's gone full circle in a way."

Some boxes have been sprayed and repaired more than ten times and Andy estimates he has spent twice as long repairing his various works as he has creating them in the first place.

"I never dreamed that in doing something good for the community I'd end up getting abuse and threats," he added.

Andy said he would carrying on doing Leeds United work in and around the stadium, as well carrying on painting canvases and private commissions, which have helped to support him while on furlough from supply teaching work.