Tattoo Artist Charged with Sexual Assault of Scots Holidaymaker

A tattoo artist is set to face trial in Majorca for allegedly sexually assaulting a Scottish holidaymaker during a tattoo session in Ibiza. The incident reportedly occurred on June 15, 2022, when the victim, then 21 years old, asked the artist to ink a butterfly on her left hip.

According to Spanish public prosecutors, the man, aged 50, is accused of taking advantage of the situation to carry out an assault that lasted approximately 25 minutes. The alleged victim felt unable to react due to “fear and anguish,” and she only reported the incident to police upon returning home to Scotland.

The trial will take place at a court in Palma, Majorca, with three professional judges presiding over the case. The artist, who has not been publicly named before the trial, was arrested on August 11, 2022. Following his arrest, he was remanded in prison by an investigating magistrate, who determined there was sufficient evidence to charge him.

Public prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of six years if the artist is convicted of sexually abusing the tourist. They have also requested that he pay the victim €15,000 (approximately £13,200) in compensation. Additionally, they aim to impose an eight-year ban on him from working as a tattoo artist and a ten-year restraining order preventing him from coming within 200 meters of the victim if found guilty.

The alleged assault took place in a tattoo parlour located in San Jose, a municipality in southwestern Ibiza known for its vibrant nightlife and picturesque fishing villages. The tattoo parlour is situated near popular tourist areas, including the party resort of Playa d’en Bossa and the lively town of San Antonio.

A spokesperson for the Civil Guard, the force responsible for the arrest, stated, “The Civil Guard, through its Unit of Investigation of Sex Crimes in Ibiza, has arrested a man aged 47 on suspicion of a crime of sexual assault.” The authorities noted that the victim reported the incident to police in Scotland, who subsequently shared her information with the Civil Guard.

Investigators also uncovered that the accused has a prior record for similar incidents, allegedly committing sexual offenses while providing tattoo services. The Ibiza Court of Instruction Number One has remanded him in custody pending trial.

It remains uncertain whether the female accuser will provide testimony via video link or travel to Majorca to testify in person. As the trial approaches, the case highlights ongoing concerns regarding safety and accountability in the tourism industry, particularly in popular destinations like Ibiza, where many young tourists seek entertainment and leisure.