A MUM who says she can't get a job because she is covered in tattoos has share an unrecognisable throwback snap of her before she got most of her inkings.
Extreme body-mod enthusiast Melissa Sloan, 45, says she's "addicted" to getting tatts and has spent countless hours under the needle.
Her look has certainly changed over the years, as it's hard to believe she is the same woman as in the picture due to her extensive covering of ink.
Despite reportedly getting funny looks in the street, she insists she's not done yet and will soon be adding to her body art collection, with a crucifix just below her right eye.
Melissa, from Knighton, Wales, told the Mirror that her tattoos are now usually done "prison style" by her boyfriend at home.
She even does some of them herself when she can.
READ MORE NEWS
Top horse trainer one of five people injured in horrific helicopter accident
Chilling way Caroline Crouch’s killer husband exposed guilt in TV interview
She said: "I carry the [tattoo] gun around with me in the boot, I'll get one in the car or anywhere.
"It's expensive now isn't it, I'm having the cross tomorrow – that would cost £60-70 at a tattooist but it will only cost me ink now, which is about £10 a bottle and a needle which is £10 a box, so I guess it will cost me about £1 I should think."
The ink-lover added that she'll never stop and has even gone back over old tattoos just to keep getting the buzz.
She said: "I get adrenaline from it, I get a buzz, and I feel brilliant, then it wears off again in a couple of days' time and I do it again.
Most read in The Sun
The real reason I'm going on I'm A Celeb & it's not money says Matt Hancock
I gave birth in a taxi & was shocked when the cab firm sent me the clean-up bill
Eastenders cast Brit gangster film legend as Sam Mitchell’s ex
Towie’s Ella Rae Wise dumped from reality dating show by furious producers
"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."
Melissa's designs include an England flag on her face and large pieces dedicated to the Kray twins and Playboy bunnies.
A campaign of abuse
However, her ink obsession has a chilling reason behind it.
Earlier this year, the mum-of-seven revealed to The Sun Online that she uses tattoos as a way to blot out years of harrowing sex abuse at the hands of her half-brother.
She claims to have suffered a campaign of abuse at the hand of paedophile Gavin Sloan, 46, until she was in her 30s
The warped predator was jailed for 21 years in May for rape and sexually assault offences against children.
She said: "When I was child, he would touch me.
"In my teens it got worse. He would grope me and try and get me to perform sex acts on him.
"I tried to fight him off but he was older and stronger than me. I was scared of him and what he was capable of.
"I felt there wasn’t a lot that I could do."
Eventually, she summoned up the courage to report the abuse in 2012.
But the stay-at-home mum's case was dropped when she decided not to pursue the allegation.
Cops revisited Melissa nine years later when probing Sloan over other child sex crimes.
She said: "It sent a chill up my spine when I learned they were investigating him over other sex offences.
"He’s evil – I call him Jimmy Savile. He’s an absolute monster."
Read More on The Sun
I did a £5 shop at Aldi to last me all week – here’s everything I got
I’m 17 & already a mum… trolls say I only got pregnant to get benefits
Sloan, of Minsterley, Shropshire, was jailed for 21 years after admitting the rape of a child, possessing indecent images of children and sexual assaults against children.
Two female accomplices were also sentenced for their part in his sick crimes.
Source: Read Full Article