Croydon shop prosecuted after giving tattoo to under-age boy
Cherry Wilson
THE joint owner of a Croydon town centre tattoo parlour which was fined for tattooing an underage boy admits the youngster "slipped through the net".
Kris Wlodarski, who works at Pain Divine, in Church Street, this week said he was "sorry" for the mistake which led to an unlicensed tattooist carrying out the procedure.
He pointed out that it was the first time in the shop's ten-year history it had been caught carrying out a tattoo on an underage customer.
It is illegal to tattoo anyone under the age of 18 – even with parental consent.
Mr Wlodarski said the procedure had been carried out by a guest tattooist who had been working at the shop for two weeks, but was not listed on its licence.
He explained how a group of teenagers came into the shop on January 6 to get a tattoo in memory of a friend who had died. The guest tattooist then carried out the procedure on a boy who was just 17.
"They slipped through the net," said Mr Wlodarski. "I accept responsibility for this even though I didn't do the tattoo myself. I'm sorry it happened. It was a mistake.
"The man who was working on the day was doing a guest slot. He doesn't work here any more after what happened. The group who came into the shop must have said they were over 18."
Mr Wlodarski added that he knows the importance of asking anyone who could be underage for ID.
"The problem was the guest tattooist didn't follow our rules," he said. "We have brought in tighter controls on ID. It's not that we didn't check before but we're stricter now."
The mistake was discovered after the mother of the underage boy complained to Croydon Council about her son being tattooed.
Mr Wlodarski and his business partner Vasile Juresco pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching the conditions of their licence at Croydon Magistrates' Court earlier this month.
They were fined £200 and ordered to pay £832 in costs.
Steve O'Connell, Croydon Council's cabinet member for community safety, said: "I am delighted with the result of this prosecution and hope that this case will serve as a deterrent to others. Giving a tattoo to anyone under the age of 18 is not only irresponsible but it is against the law and will not be tolerated."
3 Comments
by c may, tatsfield
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 11:03AM
“just my personal opinon but i think tattoos .on middle aged women look god awful.you see some with them on there legs .such a shame young women too feel the need to have them.”
by Tattoo Croydon, Croydon
Tuesday, August 31 2010, 1:01PM
“It's very important to check ID at tattoo and piercing studios. Perhaps the only acceptable ID should be passport and / or driving licences (with photo). Hopefully this will serve as a reminder to all the tattoo shops in Croydon that it is illegal to tattoo anyone under the age of 18 even with parental consent.
I can highly recommend Timebomb Tattoo on the high street. Clean, friendly and reasonable prices. Other good tattoo parlours in Croydon include steel point and brad sims.”
by Mr J Jones, Croydon
Tuesday, August 31 2010, 11:04AM
“Harsh!
"It's not my fault Mummy. That tattooist did it to me".”