Tattooist who sexually assaulted clients jailed

A man who sexually assaulted a number of women while he was tattooing them has been jailed.

Ashley Lilleyman started the sessions as normal before assaulting female clients either at a shop in Mansfield or at his home studio, Nottinghamshire Police said.

The force added some of his victims were assaulted multiple times during prearranged appointments between January 2022 and July 2024.

Lilleyman, 30, of Hucklow Avenue, Chesterfield, pleaded guilty to 14 counts of sexual assault and was sentenced to six years and four months in prison at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday.

Police said a total of eight women shared their experiences of abuse

Lilleyman's crimes came to light after one of his victims told a family member what had happened to her and they then called the police, the force said.

Police added his former employers at the store in Mansfield immediately sacked him after learning about his offending.

When detectives started an investigation, seven more women came forward to share their experiences of abuse, police added.

'Vile crimes'

During his sentencing, Lilleyman was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order. These will run for the next 10 years, police said.

He was also told that due to him being a "dangerous offender", he would serve three years on extended licence upon release, police said.

Det Con Mary Taylor said: "We'd like to firstly express our sincere gratitude to all the women who made the brave decision to share what happened to them.

"Thanks to each of them finding the courage to come forward, and his former employers' assistance throughout our investigation, we were able to expose Lilleyman's vile crimes.

"Seemingly without any care for the trauma he was causing, he repeatedly abused his position to assault his clients while they were in a vulnerable position – all for his own sexual gratification."