‘Dr Evil’ tattooist pleads guilty for tongue-splitting procedure
A British tattooist known as “Dr. Evil” has pleaded guilty to performing illegal body modifications, including a tongue-splitting procedure and the removal of an ear and a nipple.
Brendan McCarthy, 50, appeared in court on Tuesday on three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, according to a statement from the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
In 2012, McCarthy used a scalpel to split a woman’s tongue and also removed another client’s nipple. In 2015 he removed a client’s ear without using anesthetic, according to the UK’s Press Association (PA) news agency.
Authorities launched an investigation after online images showing McCarthy removing the ear prompted complaints, according to the CPS.
The procedures took place at McCarthy’s tattoo studio — Dr Evil’s Body Modification Emporium — in Wolverhampton, England.
A police inquiry began when concerns were raised over McCarthy’s practices, said Detective Inspector Chris Fox of the West Midlands Police.
“We found he was performing complex procedures without medical training, outside a clinical environment, without knowing clients’ medical histories or psychiatric background, and in the absence of any life-saving equipment should procedures have gone wrong,” said Fox in a statement.
Following his arrest McCarthy said that he hadn’t broken the law because his clients had given their consent for the procedures to go ahead, according to the CPS.
The tattooist originally pleaded not guilty when he first appeared in court in 2017, reported PA.
