Caerphilly Tattooist Prosecuted For Underage Tattooing

A Caerphilly tattooist has been taken to court following an investigation by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Environmental Health team. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On Friday 21st October 2016, Mr Adrian Edwards, age 50 of Studio One, Piccadilly Square, Caerphilly appeared at Newport Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to offences contrary to the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Tattooing of Minors Act 1969. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The offences related to him tattooing a 15 year old and failing to ensure that he conducted his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that he and others who may be affected were not exposed to risks to their health or safety. For example, it was found that consent forms were incomplete or not being completed, hot water was not switched on during operational hours, areas of the studio were unclean, and there was no autoclave for use with re-usable equipment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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 full costs of £2,263.46 and a victim surcharge of £80. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

When passing sentence the Chair stated, ‘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’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​