I can’t take my kids back-to-school shopping because of my TATTOOS – people don’t leave me alone and it’s heartbreaking
A TATTOO-COVERED mum is heartbroken after she couldn’t take her kids on back-to-school shopping because she’s too inked up.
Melissa Sloan is no stranger to headlines for her 800-plus tattoos and some of the consequences she’s suffered for them.
Now the mum of seven has revealed back-to-school shopping was too hard with strangers never leaving her alone.
Melissa, 47, says people just can’t accept her appearance and fail to grasp how it affects her family.
According to Plymouth Live, she said: “I feel heartbroken that I can’t take my kids back to school supply shopping.
“I avoid going to the shops most of the time – my partner does most of our food shops – but it’s particularly painful not to be able to partake in such a common parental activity.
“I would love to go out with my kids and help them choose supplies but strangers won’t leave me alone.”
The Kidderminster woman said kids point at her laughing – or crying if they’re scared.
She added: “When we’re in the children’s or back-to-school section in shops, other parents stare.
“Their children point at me – some of them laugh or start crying when they see me because they are scared.”
Melissa has resorted to covering her face in “thick foundation” when she goes out.
Despite the trouble, she doesn’t regret inking herself up to the point where she’s been nicknamed “Crayola”.
She said: “While it can be a major inconvenience, I don’t regret my tattoos – I love the way I look.
“If other people can’t handle it, that’s their problem.”
Melissa faces other problems having been banned from her local pub and church.
She keeps away from the beach and wearing bikinis because it apparently scares kids.
She has also previously told of how she’s struggled to land a job for more than two decades.
Last year she told The Daily Star: “I haven’t worked, I’m not proud of saying it but I haven’t worked for 20 years.”
At the time, she was trying to get pregnant for baby number eight with partner Luke as she revealed she hadn’t had sex in three years.
But being 46 at the time, she feared her mature age might pose a risk.
She said: “At my age it’s a bit scary and if I do it now, get it out the way and have it when I’m 47.”
Melissa got her first tattoo in her 20s – and hasn’t stop ever since.
She has amassed hundreds across her face and body, including England flags, love hearts and an image of the notorious Kray twins.
Melissa previously revealed she uses tattoos as therapy to cope with years harrowing sex abuse at the hands of her half-brother.
She reported the abuse to police in 2012 after Gavin Sloan tried to weave his way back into her life and allegedly made sick sexual demands.
But the stay-at-home mum’s case was dropped when she decided not to pursue the allegation.
The predator was finally jailed for 21 years for rape and sexual assault offences against children.