A former squaddie who ran an illegal tattoo business, advertised it on Facebook, and inked a girl under the age of 18, was busted in a police raid.

Paul Mason (31) inscribed a heart and the words “forever friends” on the 16-year-old girl’s forearm and “RIP Grandad” on the other.

He admitted inking the 16-year-old girl at Stirling Sheriff Court, and his equipment was seized.

Mason, who calls himself “Inky Mason” and has a large tribal tattoo around his left eye and tear drops tattooed under the right, pleaded guilty to the offence contrary to the Tattooing of Minors Act 97, and carrying on a tattooing business without a licence.

The court heard he had previous convictions for tattooing minors.

Gordon Addison, defending, said Mason’s life had been “punctuated by poverty” since he left the army at 18, but he was a qualified tattooist and had worked in reputable parlours.

The lawyer said, “I have to confess I don’t understand body art, but it is very popular amongst young people these days. From 19 to 31 Mr Mason has been in and out of rubbish jobs and from squalid flat to tenancy.” Sheriff Wyllie Robertson sentenced Mason to perform 100 hours of unpaid work, as part of a Community Payback Order.

He said, “You tattooed a minor on this occasion, and you have previous convictions for that. It is a matter of great concern to me that this continues to be done.”