A "tattoo addicted" mum says she gets three new inkings every week - but is now struggling to find work because of her appearance. Melissa Sloan got her first tattoo aged 20 and has been obsessed with body modifications ever since.
The 45-year-old is covered head-to-toe in inkings, including spider webs on her breasts, roses and marijuana leaves all over her face and a large Kray twins piece on her leg. She claims to always carry a tattoo gun around with her and says most of her "prison style" inkings are done by her boyfriend at home in Wales.
However, the mum-of-two says her tattoo "addiction" is now making it difficult for her to get a job, with employers often put off by her extreme look. Melissa admitted: "I have three tattoos a week. It's like when you have a fag or a drink, you get addicted.
"I can't stop it now, it's addictive, for me anyway. I just can't stop it. I carry the [tattoo] gun around with me in the boot, I'll get one in the car or anywhere.
"My boyfriend does them, he does my tattoos prison style." However, that doesn't mean her love for tattoos has not negatively impacted her life.
The mum shared: "I can't get a job. They won't have me. I applied for a job cleaning toilets where I live and they won't have me because of my tattoos.
"The first job I had was cleaning ages ago, cleaning toilets. People have said I have never have had a job in my life, I have had one once and it didn't last long.
"But, if someone offered me a job tomorrow I would go and work - I would take that offer. Melissa said that when she has taken the plunge to get a job and the potential employer sees her appearance they allegedly say that it will be a "problem."
She said: "I expected this in life, I can't fit in with people as I like to be me and I'm always going to be myself. "They don't have to listen to me. But I'm not going anywhere."
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