An “adored” dad contracted a serious infection after getting a tattoo from a dodgy artist in a garden shed, an inquest heard.
Ben Larry from Ormesby, North Yorkshire, died on May 6, last year as a result of multi organ failure caused by an infection in his right leg, Teesside Coroner’s Court heard on Thursday.
The 32-year-old’s parents said he “touched so many hearts” and was “loved by everyone”, Teesside Live reports.
Assistant coroner Paul Appleton said: “This infection was secondary to tattoo work that Benjamin had done to his right leg on 1st May 2023. That tattoo work was performed at unregistered premises.”
Middlesbrough Council launched a civil case against tattooist Tony James Learmount, after police arrested a 35-year-old man and dropped the case due to ‘evidential difficulties.’
He was found guilty of operating in a garden shed not registered to carry out tattooing at Teesside Magistrates’ Court in January.
Prosecutor Thomas Durance said on May 9, last year, public protection officers from Middlesbrough Council were contacted by Cleveland Police following the death of a man from sepsis.
Mr Durance told the court: “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 Donington Green, Middlesbrough. The same location where the tattoo had taken place.”
The council’s case was proven in Learmount’s absence and magistrates fined the tattooist £1,000, ordered him to pay a £400 victim surcharge and £300 towards the council costs. Cleveland Police previously issued a warning to the public of the dangers of unlicensed tattooists, urging people to check the Body Art register prior to visiting a tattooist.
Action was taken by Middlesbrough Council following complaints from members of the public about the artist’s hygiene standards when carrying out work at addresses in Rainsford Crescent, in Thorntree, and Park Lane, central Middlesbrough.
The tattooist was stopped from trading in 2018 to protect public health and anyone with a tattoo inked by Learmount was advised to contact their GP.
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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. Following Ben’s tragic death, his parents said: “Our precious, adored, kind and caring son was loved by everyone. He touched so many hearts.
“No parent should lose a child, no child should lose their daddy and no grandparent should lose a grandchild. Our hearts are broken, we are so lucky to have our two beautiful grandsons to keep his legacy and our memories of him alive.”
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