Man with 'DEVAST8' tattoo across his face accepts job offer

He will be starting a scaffolding job next week

A man who complained the tattoo running across his face reading "DEVAST8" was preventing him from getting a job has finally found employment.

Mark Cropp, 19, posted on Facebook last week to beg employers to look past his prominent tattoo, which was drunkenly inked by his brother while they were both serving time in jail,

His plea went viral, and he will be starting a scaffolding job next week.

Mark Cropp's Facebook post sparked a flurry of offers (Facebook)

"Mark has accepted a local scaffolding job," Taneia Ruki, Mr Cropp's girlfriend, told Daily Mail Australia.

"'He could be starting as early as Monday. We are still locking in the starting day."

She also said Mr Cropp received abuse over reports he had turned down 45 job offers.

"Most of those were outside of New Zealand, so they weren't on the cards," she said.

Mr Cropp said he received dozens of job offers within hours of posting his Facebook plea and said he "stopped counting when [he] reached 45".

Mark underwent the first of 12 laser sessions to have the '8' removed (Caters News)

He has also undergone the first of 12 free laser tattoo removal sessions.

Overall, the treatment is valued around $3,000 (£1,700).

Mr Cropp was serving a two-year jail term for aggravated robbery when his brother, who was also his cell mate, gave him the tattoo, which was supposed to be smaller and go along his jawline.

But after the pair drank an alcoholic home brew made from fermented apples, sugar and bread, the tattoo turned out to be larger than intended.

His brother used a makeshift needle made from a straightened spring and cassette player gun and ink made from burnt plastic cutlery, toothpaste and water.

Mark Cropp said he had been inundated with job offers (New Zealand Herald screengrab)

Mr Cropp said: "I fell asleep and eight and a half hours later I woke up with this.

"I completely forgot about it and then when I looked in the mirror I was like 'holy s**t' so I have had to live with it from then."