A TATTOO parlour owner in Hereford says he has been left devastated after a car crashed into his business for the second time in six months.

Simon Sloan, co-owner of Aargh Tattoo Parlour in St Owen’s Street, said the worst outcome would be if the building had to be demolished.

The crash, at around 2.30am on Monday (July 5), left the building with a cracked wall and gaping hole, with part of the shopfront also damaged.

Mr Sloan said that because the first crash driver was sentenced by magistrates last month for failing to stop at the scene of the crash, the insurers were due to sort out costs of fixing the building this week.

Simon Frankland, 23, of Hampton Bishop, entered a guilty plea for the first crash, which happened in December.

He was fined £450, received eight penalty points, and told to pay costs and a victim surcharge.

West Mercia Police said after Monday’s crash that Simeli Matavutuka, 47, of Roman Road, was charged with driving with excess alcohol and was bailed to appear at Hereford Magistrates’ Court on July 21.

But for Mr Sloan, his plans are to get back to work as soon as possible.

“It’s been devastating, but you’ve got to laugh,” Mr Sloan, who has worked at the parlour for 19 years, said.

He has not yet been allowed into the building as it is currently structurally unsound, leaving him with no idea when he may be able to reopen until a report is completed by a structural engineer.

“The building may have to be pulled down and completely re-built,” he said.

Before the parlour reopened in April – after the coronavirus lockdown was eased in England – Mr Sloan used a council coronavirus grant to repair the building.

“It’s just been wasted now, because it’s been smashed apart,” he said.

“If I could get in there and sort it all out, I would.”