NO SHANK YOU
Knife victim’s dad accuses tattoo artist of glorifying violence with prison blade art
A TATTOO apprentice offering prison knife inkings to customers has been accused of glorifying criminal weapons.
Callum Kelly’s shank designs depict handmade blades similar to those fashioned by inmates in jail.
Campaigner John Muir, whose son Damian was killed by a knife thug, says the art could incite violence.
Father-of-five John, from Inverkip in Renfrewshire, said: “I think it’s quite dreadful that people could be encouraged to put that on their skin.
“Why are they putting it on? Is it to induce fear? Is it to be annoying to the public?
“We are victims of violent crime and it’s something I wouldn’t encourage.”
John, who heads Inverclyde Anti-Knife Group, has fought for changes to victims’ rights. Damian, 34, was murdered in an unprovoked attack in Greenock in 2007.
John added: “I don’t think prison tattoos fit into a normal society. If this person is going to make a living out of it, I can understand why he wants to do that but it’s glorifying the method of what is being shown.”
Callum, who is based at the Petal Faced Gypsy tattoo studio in Prestwick, has drawn up a range of tools for customers to have inked into their skin.
They include blades taped onto makeshift handles and scissors glued to the edge of a toothbrush.
Callum posted pictures of the shanks on the studio’s Facebook page. He is also selling £10 prints of the lifethreatening objects, for customers who would rather buy wall art than commit to a permanent tattoo.
Asked if he wanted to say anything about John’s comments on his tattoos, he said: “No, not really. It’s just art, isn’t it?”