A tattooist has been handed a 12-week custodial sentence, suspended for two years, for inking a 15-year-old girl.
Adrian Edwards, 50, of Studio One, Piccadilly Square, Caerphilly, appeared before Newport Magistrates’ Court on Friday, October 21 and admitted charges under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969.
The prosecution was brought after an investigation by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards.
The court was told how Edwards had tattooed a 15-year-old girl.
Consent forms were either incomplete or were not completed. Other areas of concern included hot water not being available during opening hours, areas of the studio being unclean, and there was no autoclave for use with re-usable equipment.
Chair of Magistrates Kathleen Starr said: “We are satisfied that this case is so serious that it crosses the custody threshold.
“His practices at the studio carried a high risk of harm to its users, and that he appeared to have had a disregard for procedural issues such as identification checks for those underage and failed to adhere to the correct health and safety practices.”
Edwards was sentenced to a 12-week custodial sentence, suspended for two years on the condition that he commits no further offences under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Tattooing of Minors Act 1969 during that period.
He was also ordered to pay costs of £2,263.46 and a victim surcharge of £80.
Speaking after the case, Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Protection, said: “We take all reports of underage tattooing seriously and actively seek to prevent such incidents occurring.
“In addition to this, it is imperative that registered tattooists operate a high standard of hygiene within their studios to minimise the potential health risk to their clients. This was a serious incident involving a young person and I am pleased that the court has reflected this in the sentence.”