A POLICE complaint has led to a Barry tattoo artist being asked to take down a cartoon from his shop window.

Following a complaint by a member of the public, multi-award winning tattoo artist Lee Clements was asked by a police officer to remove a cartoon drawing of a small girl stabbing a toy bunny from his shop window.

A police officer visited multi-award winning tattoo artist Lee Clements at the Chimera Tattoo Emporium, on Holton Road, Barry, on October 12 to ask him to take down the image.

Mr Clements said that the officer told him a woman had officially complained to police about the drawing which had left her child "distressed".

Mr Clements, who co-owns the studio said at first he thought the police officer – who is also one of his clients – was joking.

But then the 39-year-old dad-of-three realised it was a serious visit and that he was potentially committing an offence under the public order act.

He said: "The officer was embarrassed and asked if we could take the painting down which I’ve done but we’re looking to get legal advice in the meantime.”

Mr Clements defended his right to display the picture.

“Art is supposed to create an emotional response so I guess I've succeeded on this painting," he said. "I'm just a little concerned that anyone can literally be offended by anything and make an official complaint.

"It’s coming up to Hallowe'en and there’s worse on display in the shops up the road.”

Mr Clements said the painting, Let’s Play, is the first one in a series of five he had been inspired to create after talking to his wife who has recently started a university course.

He said: “We were exploring the way people perceive children. They can be cute and innocent, but can be capable of cruelty and mischief. Is cruelty and mischief inherited or is it a learned trait?"

A South Wales police spokeswoman said: “An officer attended Chimera Tattoo Emporium on Holton Road on Wednesday, October 12, following reports from a concerned member of the public about some of the artwork on display.

“While the owner of the shop was found to have committed no offence, he removed the picture as a gesture of goodwill.”