Cheeky vigilante spray paints non-public elements round potholes and calls for motion
Speculation has been mounting as locals have begun suspect the pair might be behind the crude imagery, but Worthing’s ‘Pothole Patrol’ – Martin McCabe and Bob Smytherman – insist it’s not them
The graffiti has been hailed by online fans(Image: Martin McCabe / SWNS)
A cheeky vigilante has been spray-painting men’s privates around potholes in a bid to force road chiefs to fix them. Around half a dozen craters have been struck by the mystery artist in Worthing, West Sussex.
The resort’s “Pothole Patrol” – Martin McCabe and town crier Bob Smytherman – have no idea who is responsible. But the graffiti has been hailed by online fans, with one joking: “W**ksy. Love his work!!”
And the phallic artwork seems to have successfully attracted the local council’s attention as some have already been fixed. Martin, 44, said: “We don’t condone it. But you can see that people are getting extremely frustrated with the problem.”
Dad-of-two Martin, 44, who is standing for local election as part of the Labour party, said the penises showed that local frustration was ‘overspilling’ onto the streets.
He added: “It’s just further proof of the pothole crisis we’ve got in Worthing. Lots of people locally I’ve spoken to are positing various theories about who it could be – there’s a bit of an amateur investigation going on.
“At this stage, I’m no clearer as to who is responsible for it. The main [theory] seems to be that it’s the Pothole Patrol – at the moment we’re the main people that people are linking with it. But, as I say, it’s not us and we don’t know who it is.”
Locals were supportive of the artwork, with one posting online: “Thank you to whoever did this. It makes it a damn sight easier to spot for us cyclists, therefore making us safer.”
Guy Barber joked: “They look like quite a stiff reminder to the council.” And John Patrick Gibbons posted: “They needed to be highlighted. One of those is deep enough to kill a cyclist or wreck a car.”
In January, West Sussex County Council was rated ‘amber’ by the Department for Transport for how effectively it fixes potholes and invests in preventative maintenance.
In February 2026 alone, more than 7,000 potholes were reported in the county – with the council saying it fixed ‘more than 3,700 defects’. This was compared to just 2,366 being reported in February 2025 and 2,533 repaired.
A West Sussex County Council spokesperson said: “We do not condone vandalism, and we strongly urge people not to put themselves, or others, at risk by entering a live carriageway unnecessarily.
“Doing so is dangerous and could lead to a serious accident. Graffiti and other such activities around potholes will not accelerate repairs, which we prioritise based on severity and safety risks – not on the level of awareness or publicity generated.”
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