A Bargoed man has been prosecuted by Caerphilly County Borough Council for offering an illegal body piercing service to the public.
Richard Mark Battersby, 46, of Llancayo Road, Bargoed, admitted two counts of failing to register as a piercer and two counts of failing to register the premises of where the piercing was taking place. The charges fell under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.
Battersby’s case was heard in Newport Magistrates’ Court on Friday January 9, after he was caught operating as an unregistered mobile piercing service following a complaint to the council’s Environmental Health team.
He was fined £500 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £260 and a £50 victim surcharge. The court also imposed a forfeiture and destruction order in relation to equipment seized from his home.
Speaking after the hearing, Councillor David Poole, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services, said: “The safety of residents is of paramount importance and our Environmental Health Team work extremely hard to ensure that all unregistered businesses and individuals cease to operate.
“This is one of many successful prosecutions which should act as a deterrent for any unlicensed practice.”