October 2012

Middlesbrough tattooist keeps freedom after touching girl, 13

AN amateur tattooist who was also a convicted sex offender who indecently touched a child while giving her a tattoo has been spared jail.

John Frankland, inset, was tattooing a 13-year-old girl at his home in Middlesbrough when the offence happened.

The 32-year-old has previously served a prison sentence – and been banned from working with children – for sexually assaulting two teenage girls.

He appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday for sentencing in relation to the new offence of sexual activity with a child. He previously admitted the charge at the court.

The court heard that on March 12 this year the 13-year-old victim and three friends visited Frankland’s home in Woodcock Road for the purpose of getting tattoos.

Sue Jacobs, prosecuting, said: “When the victim was tattooed the defendant turned round the tattoo gun and applied the vibrating end to the area of the top of her legs over her clothing. 

“She pushed the end away and he continued with the tattoo which he was applying to the top of the thigh area.”

The court heard the incident only came to light after the victim’s mum saw the tattoo.

Mrs Jacobs added: “She was not best pleased and reported it to police for tattooing a minor. When police became involved, the girl was spoken to and it was then when the circumstances came to light.”

Frankland, who is unemployed, initially denied the charge. However he changed his plea to guilty on the day of the trial on the basis that the touching was a sexual joke made in poor taste.

He was also charged with attempted sexual activity with a child which he denied and the court decided not to proceed to trial with the allegation.

In 2009 Frankland was convicted of two charges of indecent assault and one of sexual assault following a trial at Teesside Crown Court.

He was jailed for two years for the offences and put on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years. For the recent offence the court heard Frankland had spent more than three months in custody on remand.

Judge Tony Bridge gave Frankland a six-month sentence suspended for two years including 12 months’ supervision. He was also given a seven-month sexual prevention order.