ANDREW SIMPSON TATTOOIST FROM BURTON PIDSEA AND HULL SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING YOUNG GIRLS

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Burton Pidsea and Hull, Andrew Simpson, a 38-year-old tattoo artist, has been sentenced to an extended prison term after being found guilty of sexually assaulting multiple young girls. Simpson, who owned the well-known Zoo Tattoo & Piercing shop located in Hull, was accused of abusing four underage girls during tattoo sessions at his premises.

Initially, Simpson admitted to assaulting two of the girls, which led the court to warn him that he could face a nine-month jail sentence. However, the case took a dramatic turn after the Hull Daily Mail published his photograph, prompting two additional victims to come forward with allegations of similar misconduct. As a result, Simpson was subsequently sentenced to an additional six months, bringing his total prison sentence to 15 months.

Prosecutor Jharna Jobes explained that the new victims, who were aged 15, 16, and 17 at the time of the incidents, reported their experiences after reading about the case in the newspaper. These girls had visited Simpson’s shop on Holderness Road in east Hull between September 2009 and January of the following year. The court heard that Simpson had also illegally tattooed these minors, knowing they were under the age of 18, which compounded the severity of his offenses.

In addition to the sexual assault charges, Simpson faced a separate allegation of sexually assaulting a 23-year-old woman who had visited his shop to have her belly-button pierced. Simpson denied this particular charge, but it did not prevent his conviction and sentencing.

As part of his punishment, Simpson was sentenced to 15 months in prison and was issued a Sexual Offences Prevention Order that prohibits him from having any contact with girls under the age of 18 for the next five years. Furthermore, he has been ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years. Simpson’s involvement in the local tattoo scene extended beyond his shop, as he was also a co-organizer of Hull Ink, the city’s first tattoo convention.

The presiding judge, Judge Michael Mettyear, the Honorary Recorder of Hull and the East Riding, expressed his concerns about Simpson’s conduct, stating, “As you were carrying out your occupation, you ensured the girls were at your mercy and no one else was there to witness what was going on.” The case has left a lasting impact on the community, highlighting the importance of vigilance and safeguarding vulnerable individuals from exploitation and abuse.