Environmental health team prosecutes unlicensed tattoist for inking 13-year-old girl

The environmental health team at Portsmouth City Council has prosecuted an unlicensed tattooist for inking a 13-year-old girl.

The local authority brought the case against Jackson Rowsell, 19 of St Faiths Road in Portsmouth, who had tattooed the girl in his bedroom in April.

The girl had seen a post of his on Facebook offering tattoos. Rowsell was told her age and the fact that her parents had not given her permission. He charged £20 for the tattoo.

The victim said the design “looked awful and amateurish”. She had to undergo monthly blood tests and injections in case of infection, before ultimately being given the all clear.

Rowsell admitted causing actual bodily harm, tattooing a minor, unlicensed tattooing and tattooing on unlicensed premises.

At Portsmouth Crown Court he was given an eight-month suspended jail sentence. He was also given 120 hours’ community service and ordered to pay £500. This included £300 payable to the girl.

Steve Bell, environmental health team leader at Portsmouth, said: "This case shows just how important it is to use a proper tattooist who is registered with the council.

"A registered tattooist has to undergo hygiene checks and knows the law – for example, that it's illegal to tattoo under-18s.  And as the victim in this case found out, a dodgy tattooist is also likely to do a sloppy job on the design."