A Fresh Start: The Incredible Story of Mark Cropp
This is the incredible story of Mark Cropp, a young man from New Zealand who found himself in a tough situation after spending two years and three months in prison. His crime? A failed drug deal that landed him behind bars. But what happened next turned his life into a wild and unforgettable journey.
A Drunken Decision That Changed Everything
While serving his sentence, Mark wanted a fresh start once he was released. He dreamed of turning his life around, but one reckless night in his prison cell made that dream much harder to achieve.
Mark and his brother, who was also in prison with him, got drunk on homemade alcohol—a mix of fermented apples, bread, and sugar. The alcohol blurred their judgment, and in their intoxicated state, they made a shocking decision.
“Let’s tattoo my face,” Mark said, laughing.
His brother, equally drunk, agreed. Using makeshift ink made from toothpaste and melted plastic utensils, they started tattooing Mark’s face. But this wasn’t just any tattoo—it was huge, covering his entire lower face and jawline. The word “Devast8” was etched in bold, black letters, staring back at him whenever he looked in the mirror.
The Harsh Reality of Life Outside Prison
When Mark was finally released, he was determined to get a job and take care of his partner and young daughter. But reality hit him hard. No matter how many jobs he applied for, employers took one look at his face and immediately rejected him.
“They wouldn’t even give me a chance,” Mark said. “I had work experience, I was ready to turn my life around, but as soon as they saw my tattoo, it was over.”
The tattoo, meant as a drunken joke, had become a curse. Mark explained the meaning behind it in an interview with Daily Mail Australia:
“You know, for a long time, I would devastate everything I touched. I would end up devastating everyone I met or got close to. They’d be disappointed with something I did or said—I was always hearing, ‘That’s devastating.’”
Mark regretted the tattoo deeply. “Once it was started, I thought, I can’t go back now. I wish I had stopped when the outline was there, to be honest.”
Looking back at the moment, he shook his head. “Before I knew it, I had this thing on my face. It was swollen like a bloody pumpkin.”
A Cry for Help
Desperate to change his situation, Mark looked into laser tattoo removal. But the process was expensive, and he didn’t have the money to pay for the sessions.
Feeling hopeless, he decided to take a different approach. He snapped a selfie showing his tattoo and posted it on Facebook. In his post, he asked for a job, pleading for someone to give him a second chance.
What happened next was nothing short of amazing.
His post went viral! Thousands of people saw his story, and soon, it caught the attention of a well-known tattoo parlor in Auckland called Sacred Tattoo.
A Life-Changing Act of Kindness
The team at Sacred Tattoo was moved by Mark’s story. They knew they had the skills to help him, so they reached out with an incredible offer.
“We’ll remove your tattoo for free,” they told him.
It was a life-changing moment. Mark couldn’t believe it. The tattoo that had ruined his chances of finding work would finally be erased!
But the good news didn’t stop there. Because of the attention his story received, Mark was also offered a job at PR Contracting, a scaffolding company. He started working for $22 an hour—a fresh start, just like he had hoped for.
A New Beginning
Mark’s story is proof that one mistake doesn’t have to define your entire life. Thanks to the power of social media, a moment of desperation turned into a second chance.
“I just want to provide for my family and move forward,” Mark said. “I’m so grateful for everyone who helped me.”
This incredible journey shows how a single post can change everything, how kindness from strangers can give someone a new beginning, and how even the biggest regrets can be undone.
What do you think of Mark’s story? Let us know in the comments below!
