A tattooist publicly shamed a customer after claiming they used coronavirus to try and get free art work.

David McKinlay thought he'd earned another client when an unnamed woman requested a new ink design, but it quickly became apparent she had no intention of paying for the job

He claims she tried to dodge the design deposit "since he's not working", but the straight-talking owner of Archangel 1608 Tattoo Studio in Glasgow, Scotland, quickly shut her down.

Once the 43-year-old had reassured her that he's not 'sitting around, scratching his a**e' she even revealed plans for her boyfriend to attempt the inking anyway.

No-nonsense David quickly rebuffed the request, labelling the two a 'pair of pr**ks' and eventually warning the chancer he 'won't be treated like a mug'.

He posted screengrabs of the exchange on his Facebook page on Friday, January 8 three days after the pair's last message [JAN 6] and it's since been shared more than 9,000 times.

The artist claimed a number of 'entitled' tattoo enthusiasts have requested free work since lockdown and has warned those considering inking themselves to 'leave it to the professionals'.

David from Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland, said: "From this girl's second message it was blatant she was just trying to get something for free.

"I don't think I was rude, but I was more sharp because I knew she was a time waster.

"There's this misconception that because we're not physically able to tattoo, that we're not working.

"We're rearranging six weeks worth of appointments from the end of December through all January and we also have to finish off designs for everyone booked in.

"We're still replying to more and more enquiries as well, and the majority of these are genuine. We have had a people who have no intention of being tattooed by us, but this is the pinnacle.

"We match people's energy and if people are excited and they're cool, we'll give that back to them. If people come with an attitude, like she did, we'll give them attitude as well.

"Everything starts to fall away when she tells me her boyfriend is going to do [the tattoo] with a cheap internet kit. All cards are off the table then. I'm not going to be taken for a mug.

"It's insulting that she wants us to do the groundwork so her boyfriend can go and scar her skin, and the tattoo they'll do will never live up to the expectations she has.

"She didn't like it when she was told no and she realised she's not getting her way. It boils down to the sense of entitlement some people have.

"She said her boyfriend can't even draw, so I'd love to see it when it's done. That'd be amazing."

The mystery tattoo enthusiast used all capital letters in her first few messages before the dad-of-two David told her to turn caps lock off.

She told him shed got her boyfriend his own tattoo machine for Christmas but he 'can't draw', and that's why she wanted him to produce the design for free while the studio is closed.

All studios were forced to close on Christmas Eve and won't be able to ink any clients until lockdown restrictions ease in February at the earliest.

David insists his clients pay a deposit before the design process begins to avoid wasting his time if they choose to go elsewhere or turn down the tattoo.

The Glasgow tattoo studio owner claims around one third of his tattoos are cover-up jobs after people have attempted to do their own, like the brazen customer planned to do.

David said: "[The machines] are utter horse sh*t. An experienced tattoo artist would struggle to do a good tattoo with the cheap machines you can buy on the internet.

"If that's what you're going to do then you deserve everything you get. That's going to be a bad tattoo, scarred skin and a risk of septicemia.

"If you do it yourself, you're basically trying to do an oil painting with a toothpick because you don't have the proper equipment.

"You're going to have a tattoo forever, so you're better to wait a wee bit longer and get it done properly rather than rushing for the sake of getting it done."

David, who lives with 38-year-old wife Sharon McKinlay and their two children Kendal McKinlay, 20 and Cassie McKinlay, 13, opened his studio in 2005.

His Facebook post has received more than 17,000 likes and more than 6,100 comments, with many heaping praise on him for the way he dealt with the cheeky customer.

David's post said: "Disclaimer - please dont worry about contacting us about your next tattoo. Were always polite and courteous, until were treated like d**ks.

"We will match your energy - if youre excited, were excited...if youre an arsehole, well drag you down to our level and beat you with experience."

Whyte Danni replied: "Well that cheered up my so far sh*t day, thank you for sharing that. Good luck with your infection love. I think with that brain capacity lockdown is good for her, keep her inside."

Beth Forrest "You really do attract some absolute fruitcakes. Well done for handling it all with panache."

Jen Mcm: "Not gonna lie, I hope he does that tattoo on her, assuming he can get the machine started."

Nikita Green replied: "Give him chance. Hes still trying to work out how to open the ink bottles."

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Tattooist publicly shames customer who tried to get away without paying 'due to Covid' - Mirror Online