A Middlesbrough man has been given a 34-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, after continuing to work as a tattooist despite being legally banned from the practice. Tony Learmount, 38, of North Ormesby, was sentenced at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on 31 March 2026 for ignoring a prohibition notice issued in 2024.
The court order follows a decade of complaints against Learmount, which began in 2013. Legal action escalated after a client he tattooed in May 2023 later died of sepsis. Following that incident, Learmount was found guilty in his absence in January 2024 of operating an unregistered studio and was ordered to pay £1,700 in fines and costs. Despite being issued a formal ban in 2024, he continued to operate from his living room, leading to further reports of unhygienic conditions and a customer who required antibiotic treatment for an infected tattoo.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Learmount was handed a 12-month community order and must pay £500 in costs alongside £187 in court charges. His tattooing equipment has also been ordered to be destroyed. Middlesbrough Council had applied for a criminal behaviour order to further restrict his ability to offer services, but the court did not grant the request.
Following the case, Judith Hedgley, head of public protection at the council, urged residents to verify the credentials of any artist before booking an appointment. She advised that anyone seeking a tattoo should ask to see proof of registration with the local authority, noting that for the safety of the public, residents should not use an artist who cannot provide this evidence.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
