Bedroom tattooist gave pupils alcohol
A tattoo artist who gave alcohol to schoolgirls before putting designs on them in his bedroom has been struck off by a judge.
Action was taken after council staff found hygiene problems in the home of Jason Riley, 41, of Acorn Drive, Belper.
A 16-year-old girl paid £20 to have the word “love” put on her left wrist.
She was given a can of Stella to calm her nerves before being tattooed whilesitting on his bed on March 17, a court heard.
A girl aged 17 had a Hindu sign tattooed on her right wrist on the same day, paying £10 for it, said Angela Fox, prosecuting for Amber Valley Borough Council.
Miss Fox said:”She remembered drinking alcohol, vodka and wine at his house before having the tattoo and was very drunk when she had it done.”
She told Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ there was a “complete disregard for hygiene requirements of tattoo equipment and practices.”
This included having an old piece of cake and packets of Pringles crisps in the bedroom as well as discarded needles, stencils next to food and “equipment kept in a dirty environment.”
Costs of £500 were ordered from Riley, a former hosiery worker who is now unemployed.
He admitted working from an unregistered premises on March 17; consuming drink in the treatment area and failing to provide suitable washing facilities.
The court was told he had been cautioned by the police for carrying out tattoos on people under the age of 18.
The force called in the council.
District Judge Caroline Goulborn told him:”It is not acceptable to carry out tattooing in your bedroom in the way you did.”
She withdrew his registration certificate to work as a tattooist.
Riley told the court he had tried to cover furnishings with plastics but told the judge:”At the end of the day I am guilty of it.”
When asked about the costs, he added:”I don’t have the means at the moment to pay it but I suppose I deserve it.”
Riley said he had to give up hosiery work because of an arm injury and was told to pay the costs at £10 a fortnight.
Miss Fox told the court that rules were tightened when a tattooist caused “a large outbreak of hepatitis B in the south of England by failing to keep his equipment and premises properly clean, which enabled the infection to be transmitted from one customer to another.”
These rules were adopted by officials at Amber Valley Borough Council in 1982, which forced tattooists in the areato get registration forthemselves and for their premises.
Anyone who wishes to carry out acupuncture, tattooing, semi-permanent skin-colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis must be registered with their local council unless they are a registered medical practitioner or dentist. The purpose of registration is to ensure basic health and safety standards are maintained.
Two years ago, Riley became registered as a tattooist to work at an existing studio on Willow Avenue, Ripley.
In March last year, the council was told he had stopped working there.
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Monday 20 May 2013
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