A man described as 'staggeringly stupid' for permanently tattooing three young children has been jailed for three years. Patrick Coe, 31, from Newcastle, left the children physically and emotionally damaged by carrying out what a court called 'foolish' and 'harmful' acts.
Children Misled and Harmed
The court heard that one of the children believed the tattoo was a temporary one, similar to those often applied at parties or on holidays. All three children reported that the tattoos were painful, and they were subsequently taken for medical tests to check for potential infections.
Medical Consequences and Emotional Trauma
As a result of Coe's actions, all three children had to receive hepatitis B and tetanus injections, along with blood tests. Beyond the physical harm, they suffered sleeping problems and required therapy to cope with the emotional fallout.
One victim described the pain as a seven out of ten and experienced a minor infection with swelling and pain. The aftercare provided was minimal, with the tattoo site merely wiped with a baby wipe. This child has since felt anxious, struggled to come to terms with the incident, and is receiving therapy.
A second victim was told the tattoo was temporary and would come off. They experienced slight pain, itchiness at school, and underwent multiple injections and blood tests, leading to 'significant anxiety and distress.' This child expressed hatred for the tattoo and is likely to need therapy.
The third victim was left 'upset and scared,' suffering from sleeping problems, requiring therapy, and feeling significantly anxious due to the medical treatment involved.
Courtroom Reactions and Sentencing
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.'
When confronted, Coe admitted his actions but initially claimed he didn't see anything wrong with them. The court also heard that he 'laughed and joked' about the situation and 'found the whole situation hilarious.'
Brian Hegarty, defending, said: 'It's quite staggering and defies belief he could be so foolish.' He added that Coe did not intend to cause pain and is remorseful, now appreciating that his actions were 'incredibly stupid and should not have happened.'
Coe pleaded guilty to three counts of child cruelty and was sentenced to three years in prison, along with a ten-year restraining order.
