Mum-of-seven who ‘can’t get a job due to her tattoos’ shares unrecognisable throwback pic before her inkings
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.
She added that she loves the way she looks and feels "proud".
Melissa, from Knighton, , said that her tattoos are now usually done "prison style" by her boyfriend at home.
She even does some of them herself when she can.
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She said: "I carry the [tattoo] gun around with me in the boot, I'll get one in the car or anywhere.
"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 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've spent my whole life wanting to be completely covered in tattoos. It's taken my 15 years to create this beautiful suit of artwork.
"I will never wake up and think I've made a mistake. I've achieved so much from being me and following my dreams."
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"I have three tattoos a week. It's like when you have a fag or a drink, you get addicted."
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."
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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.
