A man has been spray painting a road and pavement during the night in an alleged act of revenge for receiving a parking ticket.

Businessman Mark Smith, who owns the arts and crafts shop Unravel & Unwind in Green Street, Gillingham, has caught the individual on camera outside his business multiple times.

He has been targeting a parking bay outside the store and writing multiple lines of the phrase “What is this box for?”.

The latest incident took place just before 1am last Friday (September 29).

The space was formerly for disabled drivers but became accessible for all motorists last month.

Mr Smith believes the culprit’s anger comes from being given a parking ticket before the change was implemented.

The 60-year-old had an exchange with a man only a few weeks ago who was “demanding to know” when the space became available for all drivers.

He explained: “This bay was decommissioned as disabled parking, so now it is a normal parking spot for anyone.

“As it doesn’t have a sign it’s free to use, and it isn’t covered by the parking charge like the rest of the parking in Green Street is.

“That was a pain as we only found out about it from a traffic warden, but, frustratingly, not all traffic wardens knew.

“I think the gentleman got a ticket – he looks very much like the guy who came into the shop quite aggressively, demanding to know when the parking space had changed.”

Mr Smith continued: “He first did it during the night about two weeks ago. Then he cottoned on to the camera and subsequently put his hood up.

“This time he was out there a good half an hour, as he stopped and stuck the can in his coat pocket and tried to look nonchalant.”

As well as selling novelty gifts, Unravel and Unwind, which replaced the former Sewing and Knitting shop two years ago, also offers yarn and haberdashery workshops.

Mr Smith believes the graffiti is not only affecting the appearance of the road and path outside, but it is also putting off visitors coming into the shop.

“I found it odd that in the beginning it was just on the road, but now he’s sprayed it all around the box,” he added.

“My main problem with it is that he has done the footpath too.

“Our door opens on to this – it means our customers have to walk on it to get to us.

“I think it does intimidate people – a lot of our customers are older and it makes them feel ill at ease.

“We have an issue with drunks too who intimidate our customers, so adding something as small as this sends a sense of unruly behaviour that puts people off.”

Mr Smith said he has not reported the incidents to the police or reported the graffiti to Medway Council but told a traffic warden who was working in the road.