Stretford tattooist fined after Council investigation found he was unregistered

An unregistered tattooist who worked from his home in Stretford has been fined after a warrant was ordered by the authorities to search his house.

Matthew Cooley, aged 44, was fined £80 with a victim surcharge of £32 and £1,500 costs. An order was made to deprive him of all his tattooing equipment.

Trafford Council’s Environmental Health team, with assistance from the Community Safety and Trading Standards teams and Greater Manchester Police, executed a warrant to search his property in June 2024.

The council got several complaints from the public about getting infections from the needles used and appointments that were not kept after deposits were paid.

Evidence was found that Mr Cooley was tattooing at the property without the required registration. Health and safety was an after thought as inspectors found there were no hand washing facilities and they also found uncovered needles and a bin full of dirty surgical gloves.

Also they found a large collection of unwrapped discarded needles stored in an open plastic drinks bottle. There was no safe facility to dispose of sharps. Equipment and paraphernalia were seized by the Council.

Following an application by Trafford Council’s Community Safety Team, Manchester Magistrates’ Court authorised a closure order on the day after the search.

Mr Cooley had pleaded guilty to two charges relating to operating a tattoo business without registering the premises or himself with the local authority, at a previous court hearing in September.

The court told Mr Cooley that for the Council to consider not seeking a deprivation order – to forfeit his seized tattooing equipment and paraphernalia – he should complete an Infection Control Course, provide proof of registration, evidence of how he would sterilise his equipment, and a written procedure for operating safely in future.

Mr Cooley failed to provide this evidence.

Cllr Rose Thompson, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Communities and Safety, said: “Tattooing can be dangerous if it is not carried out hygienically, so it was very important that this matter was dealt with in a timely manner.

“Working together in partnership, the police and the council needed to prevent any further harm being caused to people hoping to get a tattoo. We thank everyone involved in protecting the public from this potentially dangerous operation.”

Anyone who is concerned about a potentially illegal tattoo artist, or wants to check their artist is registered, can email:  Trafford Environmental Health team.

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