Thomas “TJ” Dolan, 22, was freed on appeal in October 2007 after being given a 15-month sentence for causing £13,000 worth of damage to train carriages and railway buildings.

But his criminal record didn’t stop X Factor twins John and Edward Grimes hiring him for their debut single.

Dolan was asked to spray “old school” graffiti for the video of their song Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby) that will burst into the charts today.

Millions

He covered the set at London’s Mill Lane studios with a 12ftx30ft version of the same tag “Krek” he had sprayed ­throughout Manchester and Cheshire.

The tag will be seen by millions when the video, which features American rapper Vanilla Ice, is broadcast across the globe.

Dolan said: “It took me six hours straight and was premiered literally three days later.

“I remember seeing the original Vanilla Ice video as a kid and tried to keep it like that with the best aspects of old school graffiti but in my name. They wanted me to do that rather than write Jedward’s names. It was really good fun.”

But Dolan’s victims are furious with the hair-raising duo for not only paying him but giving his art a world platform as well.

One, calling himself Hurry O’Caine, said: “Nothing like rewarding bad behaviour. The only saving grace is he attached himself to a short-lived phenomenon.

“Like him, Jedward are an untalented irritation who will soon disappear back into obscurity.”

And a resident in Cadishead, Lancashire, said: “Why do they call them graffiti artists? That’s a contradiction in terms.

“They are criminals who cost taxpayers millions each year to clean up after them