Leah Carey, owner of Only Studio tattoo business in Kempston, has been ordered by Luton Magistrates’ Court to pay over £7,300 following convictions for illegal tattoo trading and selling fraudulent training courses. Carey pleaded guilty to offences under the Fraud Act 2006 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 after a joint investigation by Bedford Borough Council’s trading standards and environmental health teams. The investigation was prompted by complaints about a 2025 tattoo training course advertised as "accredited" and providing recognised qualifications, claims which were found to be unsupported.
The court also heard that Only Studio conducted tattooing activities before obtaining the required local authority registration, which is mandatory to ensure infection control and safety standards. Carey was ordered to pay £4,200 in compensation to two course attendees, alongside fines and costs totalling £3,182. Councillor Andrea Spice emphasised the importance of verifying practitioner registration to protect consumers and ensure adherence to health and safety regulations.
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Source: Bedford Today news. Aggregated summary, not independent reporting.