Gold Coast tattoo artist kissed, groped customer - undid his zipper

A Gold Coast tattoo artist who sexually assaulted a customer while giving her a tattoo is continuing to operate his studio. WHAT HAPPENED IN COURT

A Southport tattoo artist who sexually assaulted a customer while giving her a tattoo has walked from court.

Dmytro Davydov, 45, squeezed his female victim’s breast and placed her hand on his penis while she was in his studio to receive a tattoo, the Southport District Court was told.

The tattoo artist is continuing to operate his studio, but would be required to report any conviction to the licensing authority.

Davydov pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault on Monday.

The victim attended the 45-year-old’s Southport tattoo studio on July 7 last year to receive her tattoo.

The artist poured himself and the victim a glass of wine as they discussed the design of the tattoo.

The victim was required to take off her bra and pull down the sleeve of her shirt to expose the area of her back where she was to receive the tattoo.

While completing the tattoo, Davydov tried to kiss the victim on the lips, the court was told.

The victim pushed him back and asked him to stop multiple times.

After this, Davydov continued to work on the victim’s tattoo before he stopped to squeeze her breast over her shirt, the court was told.

As the victim went to move the tattoo artist’s hand away, he pulled her hand behind her and placed it on his penis, which was exposed through the zipper of his pants, the court was told.

The victim gathered her belongings and left the studio before her tattoo was finished.

She reported the incident to police.

Dmytro Davydov leaves Southport Courthouse. Picture: Facebook

In her victim impact statement, she described the assault as “traumatic” and said the tattoo “serves as an ongoing reminder of the events of this day”.

A psychologist report tendered in court said Davydov was a “low risk of future sexual violence” and that he had developed anxiety and depression the year before the offending.

Judge Jodie Wooldridge noted the tattoo artist had no criminal history, had written a letter of apology to his victim and entered an early guilty plea.

“I also accept that your plea is consistent with you being remorseful for your actions,” she said.

She sentenced Davydov to nine months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of two years. Convictions were recorded.