The blogger who defaced the Melbourne memorial to slain comedian Eurydice Dixon must do 200 hours of community service for his crime, but has not been sentenced to jail.

Andrew Nolch, 29, pleaded guilty last Thursday to criminal damage for painting a 25-metre long penis at the Princes Park memorial in June.

Nolch committed the act just days after Dixon was raped and murdered, and the night before a public vigil was held. He said he was making “a statement for men’s rights”.

Magistrate Olivia Trumble, who described his actions as “despicable”, sentenced him to an 18-month community corrections order in which he must complete 200 hours of community service.

“The emotional damage of your conduct is immeasurable,” she said while sentencing him. “Your conduct, in my view, is inexplicable and your actions despicable.”

Nolch must also repay more than $19,500 in restitution for the damage.

Speaking outside court, Nolch said he wanted “to say sorry to Eurydice Dixon and her family”.

When pressed about why he wanted to apologise, he answered “no comment”.

“I’m an advocate for equal rights for both genders. Not all men are bad,” he told reporters.

“I did the political graffiti because the mainstream media and feminists turned the tragic murder of Eurydice Dixon into one giant political man-hating event.

“This mainstream media propaganda and man-hating upset me so much that I thought I had to make a statement for men’s rights.”

Dixon, 22, was raped and killed in the Carlton North park after performing a comedy gig on 13 June.

A 19-year-old man has been charged with Dixon’s rape and murder.