Guy With 'Devast8' Tattooed On His Face Decides To Keep It

You'll presumably remember Mark Cropp, better known as the 'Devast8 Guy', after his search for a job went viral.

Cropp struggled to find work after drinking home brew behind bars in Christchurch, New Zealand, as half of his face was covered in a tattoo that read Devast8.

Luckily, after putting a post in an Auckland Facebook group, he got a new job as a scaffolder.

Devast8 tattoo

Credit: Caters

Due to his successful job search a local tattoo removal clinic offered him a free service, which he snapped up.

He embarked on his first laser removal session a few weeks ago. It was believed that he needed to have another 11 sessions at Sacred Laser to get the ink completely removed, but he's since had a change of heart, the New Zealand Herald reports.

After attending one session he never returned, and claims that now he has employment he sees no point in removing the tattoo. He also said he wants to stay out of the media spotlight, which is easier said that done.

Before making the decision to get rid of the tat, and then reversing his choice, Mark said: "I am just working out a date to get it taken off - which sucks because it is going to hurt.

"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.

"But I know it is the best thing for my future - and I want to be a person my family can look to for support."

Credit: Caters

Mark says the tattoo came after a drunken night in prison, where inmates managed to make an alcoholic brew out of fermented apples, sugar and bread. It was supposed to be a small design along his jawline, but his brother got 'carried away'.

The other prisoners fashioned a tattoo gun out of a cassette player and a spring found inside a pen. They made the ink from burning plastic knives and forks and mixing the black powder with water and toothpaste.

Devast8 man and his girlfriend

Credit: Caters

The word 'Devast8' is the 19-year-old's nickname, because, according to him, he devastates everything he comes into contact with.

Prior to getting employed he was criticised after he revealed he had turned down more than 45 job offers, but Taneia, his girlfriend said: "Most of those were outside of New Zealand, so they weren't on the cards."

Mark also claimed that some offers required him to have a car, so he had no choice but to turn them down.

Well, good luck in all your future endeavors, 'Devast8'.

Topics: Tattoo

Mark McGowan

Mark is a journalist at LADbible, who joined in 2015 after a year as a freelance writer. In the past he blogged for independent football fan channel Redmen TV, after graduating from Staffordshire University with degrees in journalism and English literature. He has worked on campaigns such as UOKM8? and IIOC.