Staggeringly Stupid: Man Jailed Over Child Tattoos

A 31-year-old man, Patrick Coe, was sentenced to three years in prison for child cruelty after permanently tattooing three young children. The court deemed his actions "staggeringly stupid" and "very harmful," leaving the victims physically and emotionally damaged.

The children experienced pain, swelling, and minor infections, with one victim rating the pain as seven out of ten. They all required medical evaluations, including hepatitis B and tetanus injections, and blood tests due to the risk of disease transmission. The aftercare provided was reportedly minimal, involving only a baby wipe.

One victim has been receiving therapy for anxiety and distress, while another felt the tattoo was temporary and suffered itching and significant anxiety from the medical procedures. The third victim experienced upset, fear, sleep problems, and anxiety. Coe, from Byker, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to three counts of child cruelty and received a ten-year restraining order.

During legal proceedings, Coe admitted to the acts but initially expressed amusement, reportedly finding the situation "hilarious." While his defense stated he did not intend to cause pain and is now remorseful, recognizing the stupidity of his actions, the judge emphasized the permanent physical and emotional marks left on the children.