Patrick Coe, 31, of Byker in Newcastle, was jailed for three years after he tattooed three young children who were left needing tests and Hep B and tetanus injections
A cruel man has been branded “staggeringly stupid” and jailed after permanently tattooing three young children.
Patrick Coe, 31, left the children physically and emotionally damaged after carrying out the “foolish” and “harmful” acts, a court was told. The children told family members that the tattoos were painful and all three were taken for medical tests to check whether they had been infected with any diseases.
All three had to have hepatitis B and tetanus injections along with blood tests, Newcastle Crown Court heard. When Coe was confronted, he admitted what he had done but said he didn’t see anything wrong with it and even “laughed and joked” about the situation.
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The court also heard that he “found the whole situation hilarious.” One of the victims described being in a pain rated as seven out of ten.
They suffered a minor infection along with swelling and pain after the tattoo. The victim also said the “after care” they received had amounted to the tatto site being simply wiped with a baby wipe, reports Chronicle Live.
Usually, tattoo artists will immediately clean the area using soap and water in order to remove excess ink, blood and plasma. They then apply a thin layer of a protective ointment of some kind before wrapping the tatoo with either a plastic wrap, a ‘second skin’ or a sterile, breathable bandage to protect it.
That victim was left feeling anxious after the incident and struggled to come to terms with what had happened and has since been receiving therapy. A second victim said they were told the tattoo was temporary and would come off.
The second victim was caused slight pain and left itchy at school. They needed multiple injections and blood tests, which caused “significant anxiety and distress”. The victim said they “hate” the tattoo and are likely going to need therapy.
A third victim was left “upset and scared”, suffering sleeping problems, needing therapy and feeling significantly anxious as a result of the medical treatment needed after the tattoo. Judge Sarah Mallett told Coe: “The children didn’t choose to have a permanent tattoo.
“They were put at risk by you giving them tattoos. They are visibly marked with a permanent reminder of you and this. This was a staggeringly stupid and foolish thing to do and also a very harmful thing to do.”
Coe, of Byker, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to three counts of child cruelty and was jailed for three years and given a ten year restraining order. Brian Hegarty, defending, said: “It’s quite staggering and defies belief he could be so foolish.”
Mr Hegarty said Coe did not intend to cause the victims pain and is remoseful. He added: “He does now appreciate what he did was incredibly stupid and should not have happened.”
