A young dad who has the word ‘DEVAST8’ tattooed on his face is looking for the perfect job after his search for work became really popular online. He also shared that he plans to have the tattoo removed with laser treatment.
Mark Cropp, a 19-year-old from New Zealand, went on social media Wednesday afternoon to ask people to overlook his past criminal record and his many tattoos, hoping someone would give him a job opportunity.
Within hours he had been inundated with job offers and said he had ‘stopped counting when he reached 45’.
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Mark ‘Devast8’ Cropp (pictured) has revealed that he has turned down 45 job offers since his story went viral
The 19-year-old (pictured) had taken to social media in frustration that his face tattoos were preventing him from finding work
He mentioned to Daily Mail Australia that he hasn’t actually worked a single day yet.
“I’m just holding out for the perfect job,” he explained.
We live in what’s called ‘Britain’s unhappiest town’ – and there are pickpockets around.
Some of the job opportunities he looked at needed him to have his own car, but he pointed out that he will need assistance to reach the job site.
“Until I earn my first paycheck and can buy a car, I won’t be able to get around by myself,” he added.
The former criminal revealed he will be getting the artwork – designed by his brother after a night of drinking home brew in jail – removed as soon as possible.
‘A week before I got out I taped a picture of my face to the inside of an envelope so my partner could see it – she was devastated – but now she likes it and can’t see me without it,’ Cropp (pictured, right) said
Man with DEVAST8 tattoo speaks about trying to get a job
‘I am just working out a date to get it taken off – which sucks because it is going to hurt,’ he said.
This tattoo is really special to me because my brother gave it to me, so it’s tough to think about getting rid of it.
But I realize that letting it go is the right choice for my future, and I want to be someone my family can rely on for help.
The design was meant to make me appear tough when I ended up in jail after a lot of violent actions.
This image shows Cropp (pictured) before the face tattoo which made him go viral on social media
‘And because, you know, this tattoo means something to me and my brother did it for me so it is hard to make the decision to get rid of it,’ he said
Mark and girlfriend Taneia Ruki got together a year before he was sent to prison
He was just planning to get a small tattoo along his jaw, but things got out of hand after he and his friend had some homemade alcohol made from apples, sugar, and bread.
“I went into jail with just four tattoos, and when I got out, I had a whole body covered in them,” he explained.
However, the tattoo on his face was what really surprised his family the most.
‘A week before I got out I taped a picture of my face to the inside of an envelope so my partner could see it – she was devastated – but now she likes it and can’t see me without it.’
DEVAST8 happens to be the 19-year-old’s nickname.
Mark Cropp (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia he is still waiting for the right job to come along
Cropp (pictured) says the face tattoo was supposed to be small but he and his brother got carried away after drinking homebrew
‘I was going through a rough patch’: Teen with DEVAST8 jail tattoo
‘I would end up devastating everyone I met or got close to.
‘They would be disappointed with something I had done or said – I was always hearing “that’s devastating”,’ he said.
He really hopes that the tough times in his life are behind him, just like the ink on his face is gone.
“I’ve learned from my mistakes,” he shared.
“I still believe that people shouldn’t be judged by their face tattoos, but I know it will keep happening unless I take action.”
Before he made a heartfelt post on Facebook, the teenager mentioned that people had “laughed in his face” when he tried to find a job.
The tattoo was made with a homemade machine that used a pen spring as a needle and was powered by a cassette player.
They burned plastic forks and knives to turn them into black powder, which they mixed with toothpaste and water to make the ink.
The teenager has been out of jail for two weeks.
Mark has also been offered laser therapy to remove the tattoo and will have his first session on Tuesday (pictured right with partner)
The New Zealander (pictured) has been out of jail for two weeks and says he has learnt from his mistake
