An artist who paid tribute to Shane Warne is facing charges after painting a mural of the cricket legend's face on a wall bordering an abandoned home.
The brick wall, situated on Canning Street in Carlton, Melbourne, has been a regular canvas for artist Jarrod Grech in recent years.
However, just hours before he finished up his tribute to Warnie, two cops pulled up to let him know he would be getting charged for the painting.
Grech has painted murals for the likes of Adam Goodes, DMX, Tupac, and Ben Lee, but this was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Speaking to news.com.au, Grech said the wall borders a heritage-listed home, that is now abandoned and covered with graffiti.
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He said: “So I usually cover the vandalism with my murals.
“I’ve never had a problem there, I’ve been painting that wall for years.”
The artist posted the mural on his Instagram captioning the image: “Australia lost a legend!
“In this portrait, I tried to capture Shanes's charisma and fun nature.
“One of my fondest memories is playing cricket in primary school trying to bowl like Shane and Brett Lee.
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“I hope I did your porcelain veneers proud brother. See you in the next life.”
Grech says he paints the murals ‘to inspire kids, and to help stop them covering walls with vandalism,’ however, he believes it was a member of the public that reported him to the police.
Grech also says the City of Melbourne is well across his painting talents and had even endorsed the Shane Warne mural to be made.
He said: “I’ve spoken to them before and they always have my back, they say ‘we’ll cover the vandalism and leave your murals’.
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“With the Warnie one, they said they could clear coat it for me so when it gets vandalised, it can get pressure hosed off.”
However, a spokesperson for the City of Melbourne wouldn’t confirm the endorsement.
They told News Corp: “We’re aware that he’s done street art on that wall in the past – but this is ultimately private property.”
The city’s graffiti tasking team has requested the artist attend the Melbourne West Police Station to interview for the criminal charge, but Grech will be fighting any charges.
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Grech’s isn’t the only Warnie mural to be painted following his untimely death at the age of 52.
In Sydney, the cricket icon was painted on a wall on Paddington RSL in Sydney’s east, just a kilometre away from where Warne had many career highlights at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Jayden Collins