Man who tattooed underage girls in Arbroath to be sentenced

An illegal Angus tattooist will be sentenced next month after he admitted inking girls aged 16 and 14.

Forfar Sheriff Court heard Steven McKinnon was attempting to build up a portfolio by tattooing friends and family when he carried out the offences earlier this year.

The 33-year-old, of Keptie Street, Arbroath, was originally charged with operating an illegal tattooing business, but that charge was removed from the summary complaint which McKinnon pleaded guilty to when he appeared before Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown.

He tattooed the 16-year-old between March 8 and April 21, and the 14-year-old on April 21.

Defence solicitor Nick Markowski said McKinnon believed the first complainer was 17.

“That led to the child in charge two coming to him,” said the agent, adding that at least one of the girls already had tattoos.

The court heard McKinnon has given up on the idea of becoming a tattooist.

“He is a first offender, has pled guilty at the outset and is apologetic,” added Mr Markowski.

Sentence was deferred until November 29 for the preparation of a criminal justice social inquiry report.

Also at Forfar: Kevin Wilson, 24, of Hartlepool, had a warrant issued for his arrest following his failure to appear for sentencing in charges of assaulting his partner in Glengate, Kirriemuir, on April 21 by seizing and pushing her on the body and punching her on the head.

He also admitted breaching the peace by repeatedly attempting to pull a suitcase from her grasp.