Man died of sepsis after getting tattoo at studio run from a shed | UK News

A man who was offering tattoos from a makeshift studio in his shed has been fined £1,000 after one of his customers died from sepsis.

Tony James Learmount, 35, of Middlesbrough, was found guilty of operating in a garden shed not registered to carry out tattooing at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Magistrates heard Learmount was first reported to the council in summer last year on May 9 after a man died from sepsis.

Ben Larry, 32, had died three days before, after contracting a serious infection and issued a warning to the public of the dangers of unlicensed tattooists.

His devastated family described him as a ‘precious, adored, kind and caring son who was loved by everyone.’

Prosecutor Thomas Durance said: ‘The infection had originally developed around the area of a new tattoo. Cleveland Police investigated and this led to confirmation of the tattooist being Mr Tony James Learmount of Donnington Green, Middlesbrough. The same location where the tattoo had taken place.’

Police visited Learmount’s property, where they seized his tattoo equipment and arrested him.

Mr Durance said on May 10, 2023, public protection officers visited the premises to see if the 35-year-old was still tattooing from the shed.

He continued: ‘He could not remember how long he had been operating from the shed at the time. Despite a request by public protection officers Mr Learmount was unable to provide a list of customers that he had tattooed at the studio. He “burned the paperwork” in his own words.’

He told magistrates Learmount was released without further action, but at his hearing this week – where Learmount faced one charge of failing to register his address as his premises for carrying out tattooing on or about May 1, 2023 – the council’s case was proven in Learmount’s absence.

The magistrates panel said: ‘We are limited in terms of the fine we can impose. I must say we almost certainly would have gone higher. This case has been very troubling – that’s as much we can do in this court.’

Learmount was fined £1,000, made to pay a £400 victim surcharge and £300 court costs.

In 2018, he had been stopped from trading to protect public health and anyone with a tattoo inked by Learmount was advised to contact their GP.

The action was taken by Middlesbrough Council following complaints from members of the public about the artist’s hygiene standards.

When Environmental Health Officers investigated, they found that Learmount presented a risk of significant harm to human health.

Justices granted an order preventing him from trading as a tattooist with immediate effect.

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