A man who gave a father-of-two a dodgy tattoo in his garden shed before dying of sepsis says the tragic death was not his fault as he speaks out for the first time.
Ben Larry, 32, died on May 6 last year after receiving a leg tattoo from Tony Learmount, who operated from an unlicensed hut in his backyard in Middlesborough.
An inquest into Mr Larry’s death concluded earlier this week that his leg became infected after the tattooing, which then developed into multiple organ failure.
Now Mr Learmount – who says he has received death threats over the incident – has hit out at critics, instead saying Mr Larry was a “good friend” and his death was not his fault.
He told MailOnline: ‘Ben was my boyfriend for 12 years and he even cut my hair on my wedding day.
‘Just like when you get a tattoo somewhere, there is always a risk of infection.
Father Ben Larry, who contracted sepsis after getting a tattoo from an unlicensed artist
The studio was unlicensed and Learmount was banned from tattooing by the same council in 2018
‘He was a good friend of mine and it made an impression on me. That’s why I don’t even like to mention his name anymore.
‘It’s traumatic and I’m getting threats and I’ve had to take my children out of school for two days because people are telling them their father is a murderer.
“Many of the threats are also online and the comments say I should have been tried for manslaughter.
‘There was no indication that the infection came from the tattoo. I also learned that Ben had pre-existing conditions and that he had numerous tattoos of other people.
‘Unfortunately, people can get sepsis from anywhere.
‘I had a friend who got a scratch on his leg in Turkey and he died.
‘Me and Ben had a chat before he came and I said I’m packed and you’re still being packed, which means we took care of the aftercare.
“The police have seen those conversations and are still having them.”
A 35-year-old man was arrested in connection with Mr Larry’s death, but the case was dropped due to ‘evidence issues’.
However, Mr Learmont was later prosecuted by Middlesborough Council for tattooing on premises without a permit and fined £1,000.
A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: ‘Following a police investigation it was decided that due to evidentiary issues no charges would be brought in relation to the death of a 32-year-old man.’
Mr Learmont continued: “I now have a license but I agree with the fine I was given by the court.
‘The shed was above board and I put a wall in it and everything that was needed.
“But I didn’t license it at the time because it was built around Covid and I hadn’t thought about it.
‘I am experienced and have owned two studios in the past. I now have a permit and am looking for a place for a unit.’
He added: ‘This is not a random joke, it has affected me immensely and the past year has been a blur.’
The inquest into Mr Larry’s death was held at Teesside Coroner’s Court on April 16.
Prior to his death, Cleveland Police had previously warned the public about the dangers of unlicensed tattoo artists, urging people to check the Body Art Register before visiting a tattoo artist.
Images of Learmount’s studio were previously distributed by Middlesbrough Council after it successfully took him to court over his unlicensed tattooing
The makeshift tattoo studio run by Tony Learmount from his back garden in Middlesbrough
Environmental health officials previously warned that Learmount’s work posed ‘a significant risk of harm to human health’ (pictured: his studio)
Teesside Live reports that Mr Learmount has been banned from acting to protect public health – with anyone inked by him advised to contact their GP.
The council took action in 2018 after receiving complaints from members of the public about its hygiene standards at several locations in Middlesborough.
When Environmental Health Officers investigated, they found that Learmount posed ‘a risk of significant harm to human health’.
The judges issued an order banning him from practicing as a tattoo artist with immediate effect.
Following this incident, Mr Learmont said: ‘That had to do with an ex-girlfriend.
‘I was operating in a spare room that I had turned into a small studio and I had some waste left over.
‘I asked my ex to throw it in the bin, but she kept it and put it back in the bedroom.
‘Three months later, when we broke up, she called the council and said Tony was tattooing illegally.’
Following Ben’s tragic death, his parents said: ‘Our precious, adored, kind and caring son was loved by all. He touched so many hearts.
“No parent should lose a child, no child should lose their father and no grandparent should lose a grandchild.
“Our hearts are broken, we are so lucky to have our two beautiful grandsons who can keep his legacy and our memories of him alive.”