A teenage father with ‘DEVAST8’ tattooed across his face is ‘waiting for the right job offer’ after his desperate plea for work went viral – and he has revealed he will be getting the jailhouse ink lasered off.
Mark Cropp, 19, from New Zealand, took to social media on Wednesday afternoon to beg someone to look past his criminal convictions and heavily-tattooed face and give him a chance at work.
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
But he told Daily Mail Australia he still hadn’t ‘done a day’s work’.
‘I am just waiting for the right one to come about,’ he said.
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Some of the jobs required him to have his own car – he clarified – but he will need help getting to the work site.
‘Until I get my first paycheck and get a car I won’t be able to get myself around,’ he said.
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.
‘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.’
The artwork was designed to make him ‘look tough’ when he landed in jail following a long string of violent behaviour.
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
It was meant to be a ‘little one along the jawline,’ but the pair got carried away after drinking home brew made from fermented apples, sugar and bread.
‘I went into jail with four tattoos and I came out with a full body suit,’ he said.
But the face tattoo was the biggest shock to his family.
‘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.
But he hopes the devastating chapters of his life are over – erased along with the ink on his face.
‘I have learnt from my mistake,’ he said.
‘I still don’t think people should be judged by the tattoos on their face – but I know it will keep happening unless I do something about it.’
Before his final desperate plea on Facebook the teenager said people had ‘laughed in (his) face’ when he had asked for work.
The tattoo was drawn with a homemade gun which used a needle made from the spring of a pen and powered by a cassette player.
Plastic knives and forks are burnt to a black plastic powder and mixed with toothpaste and water to create 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
Riona was cruelly set on fire — after a year of recovery, she’s finally going to her new home
The degree of cruelty some humans have towards dogs is simply unfathomable. Riona, a cute puppy, endured the most agony of all when her owner cruelly burned her on fire the previous year.
But Riona is finally moving to her new house, almost precisely a year after that terrible event.
Residents of Nutbush, Tennessee saw the horrifying sight last June when Riona, a pitbull mix, ran down the street while completely engulfed in flames. It was obvious from the gas scent that she had been purposefully set ablaze.
The degree of cruelty some humans have towards dogs is simply unfathomable. Riona, a cute puppy, endured the most agony of all when her owner cruelly burned her on fire the previous year.
But Riona is finally moving to her new house, almost precisely a year after that terrible event.
Residents of Nutbush, Tennessee saw the horrifying sight last June when Riona, a pitbull mix, ran down the street while completely engulfed in flames. It was obvious from the gas scent that she had been purposefully set ablaze.
Riona’s tale was told in a TikTok video that went viral and received millions of views, inspiring compassion for Riona all around the world.
Riona’s journey to recovery was lengthy, requiring multiple skin grafts to address the fourth-degree burns that covered her entire body. Riona was claimed to have been frightened by the experience, yet she was also upbeat during her recuperation.
Mclemore remarked, “She’s just always wagging her tail.”I suppose that’s what makes it even worse. Just being so lovely, and for someone to do something like this to her—not that it would ever be OK. She simply adores everyone.
The Commercial Appeal was informed by Natoli that “she’s actually kind of cute with one ear.”It adds cuteness to her personality.
Supporters brought presents and donations for Riona, and Tails of Hope kept posting updates on her progress.
Quishon Brown, 43, was taken into custody in the meanwhile for allegedly setting Riona on fire. He was accused by the police of misdemeanor assault, two felonies, severe animal cruelty, and setting fire to personal property. Trial in the case is presently pending.
A Facebook post claims that Riona’s story contributed to the passage of a new Tennessee law against animal abuse.
Riona’s condition gradually got better over the course of several months. Riona’s story has lately had an encouraging development: nearly precisely a year after she was set on fire, she is finally moving to her new home!
Riona would be traveling for 10 hours to reach her new permanent home, according to a post made by Tails of Hope.
“We wanted to find her a forever home, and we succeeded in doing so,” Natoli stated to the Commercial Appeal. “Riona has a large yard to play in, children to play with, other dogs to play with, and a family that understands what her injuries were and has experience in the medical field.”
The rescue posted on Facebook, saying, “Riona’s story is not coming to an end, in fact it is really just beginning.” “Our ‘warrior’ girl, we have all shared in this miracle together.”
Tails of Hope added that just after Riona departed for her new home, they took in another rescue dog who had suffered burns, serving as a reminder of how important animal rescue work is never done. They wrote, “There is always someone else in need.” We get to participate in yet another story right now.
What a terrible ordeal for this beautiful, kind dog to go through, but we’re overjoyed that Riona is moving on to her new home after a year!
Please spread the word about this encouraging update!
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