A FREELANCE tattooist who helped a friend brand his wife's breasts, abdomen and forearms for alleged infidelity was jailed for two years and 10 months yesterday.

His sentence for outraging the woman's modesty is just two months less than the husband's jail term, which was meted out in 2007.

Although the tattooist was not the mastermind, District Judge Jill Tan said the revenge act could not have been accomplished without him.

She also noted that he already had previous convictions for violent behaviour.

Like the husband, the 41-year-old will be given six strokes of the cane.

Since the attack, the victim has gone for 11 laser treatment sessions to remove the tattoos. She has another six sessions to go.

But as the tattooing was not done properly, the victim would be left with some scarring and skin damage, said Assistant Public Prosecutor G.K. Jayarajan.

'The accused abused his skill and know-how and collaborated with his accomplice to permanently and publicly brand the victim,' he told the court yesterday.

Despite the tattooist pleading for a lighter sentence, Judge Tan said she saw no 'substantial difference' between his and the husband's culpability.

What the victim's husband had done was a 'grave wrong', but he did it because he had suspected his wife was unfaithful, the judge said.

Read the full story in The Straits Times today.