Welsh mum forced to hide on Halloween as extreme tattoos 'scare children'

'Britain's most tattooed mum' Melissa Sloan said she 'doesn't need a Halloween costume' as she's covered from head to toe in ink. This can be intimidating to children though

'Britain's most tattooed' mum is used to being judged for her inkings.

Melissa Sloan, who has struggled to find employment due to her 800 bold tattoos, is often stared at in the street. While some make cruel comments, others avoid her.

What's more, some children run away from her in fear. This makes Halloween particularly difficult for the 47-year-old, who says she's forced to "hide in the bushes" when she takes her children trick-or-treating.

She explained: "I don't need a Halloween costume – my tattoos already scare the kids, enough as it is. They are creeped out by my appearance daily but I have to be extra cautious during the spooky season."

Melissa, originally from Knighton in Powys but now living in Kidderminster, says kids don't often knock on her front door during spooky season either.

Melissa says it's a shame she can't celebrate like everyone else does. She explained: “It makes me upset that I can’t enjoy Halloween fully with my own children. I can’t join in trick or treating properly, for instance.

“Many of my neighbours are afraid to answer the door if I take my kids out. So I have to hide in the bushes or down the road.

“When I go with them to the door, people are just shocked and look at me – their stares are tiresome.

“As for my own house, when I open the door to give out sweets, kids sometimes run off. Others won’t even bother trick or treating at my place at all.”

Melissa is no stranger to having to hide away her face. She has been banned from numerous venues and avoids food shopping because people won’t leave her alone.

The situation has escalated so much that she now wears make-up when outside to cover up her ink. Melissa added: “It’s a shame people can’t just understand my facial art and not instantly become cautious.

“I’m forced to hide away and hide the real me. People should accept that my ink is a form of self-expression.

“I’m still me – Melissa. I just display my creativity on my skin to share it with the world, instead of keeping it under wraps.”