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
There are hints that Pete Wicks and Maura Higgins might be secretly dating after they spoke up following a drunken kiss.
Pete Wicks and Maura Higgins shared a kiss at this year’s glamorous Pride of Britain event. The Mirror looks back at their flirty past, which includes cozy lunches and moments where they shared “intense” looks.
After months of rumors, Pete Wicks and Maura Higgins confirmed their relationship with a kiss, even though Pete had said earlier that night he was “single.” According to The Mirror, the two were seen kissing and getting close at the Pride of Britain afterparty at the Red Bar in London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
This news probably won’t shock fans, as there have been rumors about Pete and Maura for a while. Meanwhile, Pete, 35, has also faced a lot of attention over his friendship with his Strictly Come Dancing partner, Jowita Przystal, because their strong chemistry made fans wonder if there was more going on. The Mirror looks back at Pete and Maura’s flirty history and their playful moments together.
Close Conversation
This isn’t the first time Pete and Maura seemed close at the Pride of Britain Awards. At the 2023 event, they were seen having a deep conversation and sharing looks that hinted at something more than just friendship.
Maura broke up with her Hollywood stuntman boyfriend, Bobby Holland Hanton, in March, and Pete, known for his playboy image, has been single for a while. Though he has a reputation as a womanizer, Pete has spoken openly about wanting to settle down. In a recent interview with The Times, he said, “I’m nearly 36. I want to get married and have kids. I’ve had many great opportunities, but what’s the point if I can’t share them with someone?” He also admitted that he’s not ready for a serious relationship yet because he’s still figuring himself out.
Maura has been a strong supporter of Pete. In September, she cheered him on when he released his memoir Never Enough: My Words Unfiltered by posting “Proud of you” on her Instagram story.
The two have also been seen having fun trying out dance moves on TikTok, with Maura getting into the spirit as Pete continues on Strictly Come Dancing.
Lunch Kiss
In August, Pete and Maura were spotted enjoying a cozy outdoor lunch at the Broadwick Soho Hotel. Even though it was a public place, they didn’t hold back when it came to kissing. Pete reportedly arrived about an hour after Maura, who was with friends. An eyewitness told The Sun that after sitting for a while, Maura leaned in for a long, passionate kiss with Pete, which was more than just a friendly peck. The source added that they could barely take their eyes off each other, with Pete keeping his arm around Maura all evening. They looked very much in love and weren’t trying to hide it.
Intense Looks
After photos of them in Soho went public, body language expert Judi James commented that they seemed “equally smitten” with each other, which is rare for celebrities. She told The Mirror that when famous reality stars like Maura and Pete start a relationship, it often looks one-sided or staged, where one person seems more interested than the other. But in their case, Judi noted that their eye contact and gazes at each other looked balanced and intense. This kind of connection is unusual for reality stars, as one usually looks captivated while the other might be distracted by cameras.
Making Light of Rumors
They also seem to be having fun with the rumors about their relationship.
Maura responded to the gossip with some playful humor by wearing a t-shirt featuring the photo that got everyone talking, along with the slogan “We can’t be friends.”
She wore the shirt while supporting Pete and his friend Sam Thompson during their live podcast recording at Hammersmith Apollo. Maura shared a picture of herself in the shirt on her Instagram Story and wrote, “Hilarious night… You smashed it!”
Podcast probe
Pete recently chatted with Olivia Attwood, a former star from TOWIE, on her podcast So Wrong It’s Right, where she asked him about his relationship with Maura. Olivia, 33, didn’t hold back and directly asked, “Your dating life. Maura Higgins?” Pete responded, “Me and Maura have known each other for a long time.”
Olivia kept pushing, saying, “You’ve had a kiss; we’ve seen it!” Pete replied, “No, you haven’t seen it.” Olivia wasn’t letting him off the hook, adding, “We’ve seen a picture of it.” She then asked, “Are you and your dance partner romantically involved?”
Pete burst out laughing and exclaimed, “My God!” Olivia said, “You don’t get awards by not asking the questions!” Instead of answering, Pete joked, “One of the biggest problems is my b******.” He added, “I have to wear Spanx… otherwise, Shirley will end up with a couple of black eyes!”
After party kiss
Even though Pete and Maura haven’t talked much about their clear chemistry, people at the Pride of Britain Awards noticed their feelings for each other. Maura was seen giving Pete a sweet kiss on the nose, followed by a kiss on the lips.
An attendee told The Mirror that they overheard Pete talking about being single at the afterparty, despite their affectionate behavior. The guest said, “Pete did seem cozy with Maura at times, but he wasn’t shy about telling people he was single. He proudly declared he was single on the red carpet during interviews and even joked about not being in a relationship at the bar after the awards.”
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