Man with 'DEVAST8' tattoo across his face accepts job offer
He will be starting a scaffolding job next week
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
A man who complained the tattoo running across his face reading "DEVAST8" was preventing him from getting a job has finally found employment.
Mark Cropp, 19, posted on Facebook last week to beg employers to look past his prominent tattoo, which was drunkenly inked by his brother while they were both serving time in jail,
His plea went viral, and he will be starting a scaffolding job next week.
"Mark has accepted a local scaffolding job," Taneia Ruki, Mr Cropp's girlfriend, told Daily Mail Australia.
"'He could be starting as early as Monday. We are still locking in the starting day."
She also said Mr Cropp received abuse over reports he had turned down 45 job offers.
"Most of those were outside of New Zealand, so they weren't on the cards," she said.
Mr Cropp said he received dozens of job offers within hours of posting his Facebook plea and said he "stopped counting when [he] reached 45".
He has also undergone the first of 12 free laser tattoo removal sessions.
Overall, the treatment is valued around $3,000 (£1,700).
Mr Cropp was serving a two-year jail term for aggravated robbery when his brother, who was also his cell mate, gave him the tattoo, which was supposed to be smaller and go along his jawline.
But after the pair drank an alcoholic home brew made from fermented apples, sugar and bread, the tattoo turned out to be larger than intended.
His brother used a makeshift needle made from a straightened spring and cassette player gun and ink made from burnt plastic cutlery, toothpaste and water.
Mr Cropp said: "I fell asleep and eight and a half hours later I woke up with this.
"I completely forgot about it and then when I looked in the mirror I was like 'holy s**t' so I have had to live with it from then."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments