Benidorm tattoo-gate: police probe
GROOM-TO-BE DENIES PALS PAID HOMELESS MAN
POLICE have launched an investigation into a North Shields stag do which allegedly paid a homeless man to get the groom’s name and postcode tattooed on his forehead.
It emerged today that police are now looking into an incident which saw Tomek, from Benidorm, get “Jamie Blake, North Shields, NE28” inked on his forehead.
He was allegedly being paid £90 by a Tyneside stag party.
The cash was reportedly paid by pals of Jamie Blake, who was at the Spanish resort on his stag do.
However, Mr Blake, from North Shields, claimed he has nothing to do with it and he is now at risk of losing his job.
The images posted on Facebook showed Tomek smiling and gesturing a ‘peace’ sign, before he apparently had to stop because getting the tattoo was too painful.
But the pictures were quickly deleted after angry social media users branded it “barbaric” and slammed the parlour for doing the tattoo.
Now, a GoFundMe page has been launched to raise as much as £3,000 for Tomek to get it removed.
Some of those who have donated added to growing criticism for those behind the stunt.
“I am ashamed to be in any way connected to those who did this to Tomek. They do NOT represent decent British people,” wrote Angela Steatham.
Juan Carlos Fulgencio, a central government delegate for the Autonomous Community of Valencia, which includes the Benidorm area, said a formal complaint had been made to police in Benidorm and an investigation was under way.
He said: “It appears this citizen was in a bad way and that because he was incapable of making a coherent decision about tattooing the name of another person on his forehead, he agreed to do it.
“It appears the money that in principle they paid him for this strange act subsequently disappeared.
“In any case the police are investigating and I am certain those responsible will be brought to justice.”
Mr Blake, who said he moved from North Tyneside to Benidorm three months ago and works on the strip, claims Tomek was not paid any cash to get the tattoo.
“I was not there at the time. There was a big group of around 30 of us drinking in the bar,” he said.
“There was a group of Irish lads there as well and Tomek. He isn’t homeless, he lives with my friend and works on the strip.
“I got drunk and was asked to leave the bar. I was never in the tattoo parlour and as far as I know he was not paid any money.”
Mr Blake claimed the first thing he knew about the incident was when his friends contacted him to say it was on social media and in the news.
And he admitted: “It has been a nightmare. I might have to fly home and could lose my job here.”
To donate to the page, go to www.gofundme.com/zh7dphomeless-man.