A Pontllanfraith man has been prosecuted by Caerphilly County Borough Council after it was revealed he was illegally tattooing at his home address.
Craig Crook, 34, of Broadmead, Pontllanfraith, was taken to court after an investigation by the council’s environmental health department.
The investigation found the room where Crook was tattooing people did not meet the standard of a tattoo studio under council by-laws and that equipment being used was not sterilised. The tattoo equipment was subsequently seized and destroyed.
The case was heard on September 5 at Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court where Crook was convicted of three offences under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. He was ordered to pay a fine of £450, together with £900 in costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Cllr David Poole, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services, said: “Our team of officers work tirelessly to safeguard and promote the importance of public health across our county borough. Where people operate illegally and blatantly pose a risk to public health, we will not hesitate to take formal action through the courts, as we have done in this particular case.”
Tattooists are required to be registered with the council, which will then inspect a tattooist’s studio.