A tattoo artist has been granted a licence to work in Moray despite police warning that he has a “consistent propensity for violence”.
Moray Council’s licensing committee yesterday gave Buckie resident Shaun Doherty permission to operate a tattoo and piercings parlour in his hometown.
But the 26-year-old had to make an emotional appeal to convince councillors that he was a changed man, after being convicted on a series of assault charges in his younger years.
Police bosses had compiled a report urging the committee to reject Mr Doherty’s application, based on his past misbehaviour.
Sergeant Gavin Jardine detailed an offence that occurred in Portgordon in 2008, where Mr Doherty broke a rival’s nose.
Councillors then learned that in April 2011, the tattooist butted another man and struck his victim’s girlfriend as she was trying to shield him.
Sgt Jardine added that in December 2012, Mr Doherty got into trouble for breaching his community payback order, and that he punched a man in the eye during a pub brawl in Buckie the following May.
He added: “These charges involve assaulting members of the public, it is our view that the applicant has a consistent propensity for violence.”
However, Mr Doherty argued that he “wasn’t that person anymore”.
He said: “Since that last offence in 2013, I have tried to make my life better.
“I have a young daughter now and I believe that I have changed.”
He added that he had been working with the Princes Trust charity and Moray’s Business Gateway group to help launch his career.
Councillors heard that he had earmarked sites in Buckie’s Gordon Street and High Street to set up shop in.
Moray Council leader Stewart Cree said he was faced with making an “extremely difficult” decision.
He said: “I understand why the police feel the need to highlight these concerns, but we also have evidence that Mr Doherty has worked to turn his life around.”
Forres councillor, George Alexander, cited positive references Mr Doherty had received from social workers.
He added: “I’m prepared to take the risk of being let down here.”