Tattoo teen ‘hasn’t spoken to Mum for three years’

When a then 16-year-old girl got a dreamcatcher tattoo on her leg, she had no idea it would tear her family apart and lead to a legal fight.

A teenager whose ankle tattoo has torn her family apart has revealed her love for her father facing a prison sentence and how she hasn’t spoken to her mum for three years.

Casey Victory and father Bradley Victory fronted up at Picton Local Court in western Sydney on Wednesday so he could face charges after letting his 16-year-old daughter get a tattoo without the mother’s consent. He is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The latter charge was dropped, but the assault charge remains and could result in a maximum five years in prison for the 45-year-old truck driver who has pleaded not guilty.

Last New Year’s Eve, Ms Victory, with her father’s consent, had a dreamcatcher – a native American good luck symbol – tattooed on her calf.

Months later, Mr Victory’s ex-wife Nadene Rees, of Hill Top, with whom he shares three children, launched a private prosecution against him.

Under NSW law, it is illegal to tattoo anyone under the age of 18 without written permission from a parent or guardian.

Ms Victory had her father’s consent and says she has been living with her father and her paternal grandparents for three years.

Bradley Victory and daughter Casey leave Picton Court on Wednesday after one charge was dropped against him. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The dreamcatcher tattoo on Casey’s calf. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Casey’s mother Nadene Rees at Picton Court. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Mr Victory told A Current Affair on Wednesday night that he was very protective of his daughter.

Appearing beside Casey on camera, Mr Victory said, “I’ll do anything for Casey. to protect my daughter. Yeah, I would go to extreme (lengths for) all my kids. They mean the world to me.”

Asked whether her father was a good dad, Casey told ACA he was “all I could ever ask for. He’s the best dad. He does everything for me. I can go to him about anything, teaches me how to do stuff, can ask him anything.

“He’s always there for me when I need help.”

But in three years, Casey admitted, “I haven’t spoken to Mum”.

Bradley and Casey Victory said they love each other and that she hasn’t spoken with her mother for three years. Picture: A Current Affair

“I love you so much, Dad,” she said, to which Mr Victory replied, “thank you, darling … you’re a really good girl.

“I’m really proud of Casey. I love her to pieces. Yeah. She’s a good daughter.”

Casey said the dreamcatcher on her ankle represented her own dreams “to succeed in life, when I’m older, and get my own house and have a family of my own”.

The idea for having a tattoo first came up when Casey approached her father and said, “Dad can I have a tattoo?”.

Mr Victory said he had tattoos himself and didn’t want to be a hypocrite, so thought “like father, like daughter” and gave his permission.

Lawyer Sam Macedone told ACA that it was quite legal for one parent to give consent.

“Having this man charged with assaulting her is, in my mind, ridiculous,” Mr Macedone said.

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