A malicious ex-boyfriend subjected his former partner to a horrifying ordeal, nearly covering her entire body with over 250 tattoos using a low-cost machine he purchased online. Many of these tattoos prominently featured his name or initials.
This Dutch tormentor procured the tattooing equipment from AliExpress and over the years coerced her into getting inked—leaving almost 90% of her body marked with messages that declared her as his “property.” This disturbing case has prompted an organization to raise over $35,000 to help fund the removal of these unwanted tattoos.
According to Andy Han from the Dutch organization Spijt van Tattoo, which translates to Tattoo Regret, the tattoos were strategically placed in areas that he suspected had been touched by other men, including her breasts and buttocks. “It was a sign of control and possession,” Han explained to the NL Times.
The fundraising campaign highlighted the plight of the victim, identified only as Joke, by showing her face almost entirely obscured by dark ink, with the name “Hans” prominently on her face and neck. This stark image contrasted sharply with a more recent photo of her, where she appeared with a smile and significantly fewer tattoos, particularly on her face, thanks to the tattoo removal efforts.
The fundraiser showed the victim — only identified as Joke — with her face almost covered in dark ink, including the name “Hans” on her face and neck.
It was a sharp contrast to the almost tattoo-free smiling face in the latest pic after “a large portion of Joke’s tattoos have been removed, especially on her face,” the fundraiser said.
“She hopes to be tattoo-free again by the end of this year,” the group said — calling her just one of a number of women marked by abusers.
Joke’s ex “began stalking, threatening and intimidating her” until “she numbed herself with alcohol and drugs, which eventually left her unable to defend herself,” the tattoo group’s boss said.
Joke claims she reported her ex to Dutch authorities, but no arrests have been made.
“Any reasonable person knows someone wouldn’t voluntarily get tattoos near the eye, on the nose or on the ear,” Han added.
“But ultimately, the authorities couldn’t pursue it because it was legally difficult to prove. Her ex claimed she consented. For Joke, that feels like an injustice,” Han said.
Joke has begun treatments and is hoping to be tattoo-free by the end the year. Leftover funds will be donated to help other domestic violence victims.
“Someone who has been deeply hurt can rise again,” Joke said. “If I can do it, so can someone else.”
