This is Gloucestershire --THE furious mum of a 14-year-old girl tattooed by an unlicensed amateur shopped him to police.
Untrained Ross Richardson admitted inking the girl with a £100 kit bought on eBay. Yesterday Stroud Magistrates' Court was told Richardson, 23, was pestered by the girl into giving her a tattoo in memory of her late grandfather – after her mum told her not to get one.
She told Richardson halfway through doing the tattoo in June this year that she was 16, when she was in fact 14, the court was told.
"She had chosen the pattern from a book," said Teresa Perry, prosecuting.
"No questions were asked of ID, age or parental consent.
"£20 exchanged hands, then, while she was playing with a sibling in the rough and tumble, the tattoo was exposed.
"Her mother was aghast and demanded to know how it had come into being."
The girl told her, and her mum reported Richardson to police.
In interview, he said he bought a tattoo kit on eBay, and did not have any training, but did tattoos for people who asked him, said Miss Perry.
She said he admitted not asking her age but assumed she was 18.
Lloyd Jenkins, defending, said Richardson was genuinely remorseful and was open and frank with police.
Richardson, formerly of Hartington Road, Linden, pleaded guilty to tattooing a person under 18, contrary to sections one and two of the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969. He was fined £40, with a £20 victim surcharge and £20 costs.
Reputable tattoo artists have warned about the dangers of being inked by those without a licence.
Mark Richmond, of Gods of Ink, in Gloucester, was concerned at the risk of infection.
"If I was her I would get a blood test done now," said Mr Richmond, whose studio is based in Black Dog Way. Did he have £2,500 worth of sterilising kit like we have? She should get a blood test – there is a risk of hepatitis."
■ Are you the mum who reported Richardson? Call the newsdesk on 01452 698821. Reported by This is 13 hours ago.