Genital mutilation allegations prompt Erina Fair police raid
A BODY modifier and tattooist charged with the alleged mutilation of a woman’s genitalia has been identified as Brendan Russell.
Central Coast
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A BODY modifier and tattooist charged with the alleged mutilation of a woman’s genitalia has been identified as Brendan Russell.
Detectives arrested the 37-year-old at his home in Terrigal about 8am this morning before he was taken to Gosford Police Station.
Brisbane Water and Tuggerah Lakes police established strike force Nellievale to investigate the allegation and conducted extensive searches at his Transition body modification, tattoo parlour and barber shop at Erina Fair and another business in West Newcastle this morning.
Detectives allege a 33-year-old woman engaged the body modifier for a procedure at a business in Newcastle West in 2016 but later made a formal complaint of mutilation to police.
Body modification is currently not legislated in NSW however members of the so-called skin penetration industry are required to follow public health regulations.
Mr Russell is not a qualified medical practitioner but has posted on social media a statement of attainment from Queensland TAFE for “maintain infection control standards in office practice settings”.
A senior NSW Health source said Mr Russell was being investigated for a number of body modification procedures including the alleged amputation of the top of a man’s finger.
However, he said a number of alleged victims have been reluctant to come forward and, other than infection control, there was very little by way of legislation for health authorities to prosecute.
“You can ask to have your finger cut off but if you did it to a dog you would be prosecuted under the Veterinary Act,” he said of the unregulated body modification industry.
Mr Russell was assisting police with their inquiries this morning and has been charged with the offence of “prohibition of female genital mutilation”.
He has been granted strict conditional bail and has been issued with a court attendance notice to face Gosford Local Court on Tuesday, May 15.
It will be alleged Mr Russell performed the procedures using local anaesthetic, which he is not qualified or legally entitled to do.
On his social media profiles Mr Russell said he performs various body piercings, scarification, tongue slitting and sub dermal implants, which do not require a licence other than following public health regulations.
He also boasts about nipple and ear reconstructions where he transforms the appearance of nipples into other shapes, such as hearts and removes tissue and cartilage from ears to give them an “elf” look, which again does not require a licence.
Police are urging anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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