The Incredible Story of Mark Cropp: From Prison to a Fresh Start
This is the amazing true story of how social media changed the life of a young man named Mark Cropp from New Zealand. After serving two years and three months in prison for a failed drug deal, Mark was determined to turn his life around. But one big mistake from his time behind bars almost ruined his chances of a fresh start.
A Drunken Decision That Changed Everything
While in prison, Mark had one wild night that he would later regret deeply. One evening, feeling trapped and desperate, he and his brother drank homemade alcohol, made from fermented apples, bread, and sugar. As the alcohol clouded their judgment, they made a shocking decision.
Mark and his brother decided to give him a tattoo—a big one—right across his face. Using a makeshift ink mixture made from toothpaste and melted plastic knives and forks, they carefully carved out the word “Devast8” across his jaw and lower face.
At first, it didn’t seem like a big deal. But when he woke up the next morning and looked in the mirror, reality hit hard.
“Before I knew it, I had this thing on my face,” Mark later said. “It was swollen like a bloody pumpkin!”
The tattoo became a constant reminder of his past. And once he got out of prison, he realized just how much trouble it would cause him.
The Harsh Reality of Life After Prison
After his release, Mark was eager to turn his life around. He wanted to support his partner and young daughter and prove that he had changed. But there was a big problem—his face tattoo.
Despite his work experience, every time he applied for a job, employers took one look at his tattoo and turned him away. No one wanted to hire someone with such a large and visible marking. It didn’t matter that he was ready to work hard and start fresh—people judged him immediately.
Mark opened up about the meaning behind the tattoo in an interview with Daily Mail Australia:
“You know, there was a long time when I would devastate everything I touched. I would end up devastating everyone I met or got close to,” he said. “People were always saying, ‘That’s devastating.’ So, in that drunken moment, I thought, ‘Why not make it official?’”
He admitted that he regretted the decision almost immediately. “I wish I had stopped while the outline was there, to be quite honest. But once it was started, I thought, I can’t go back now.”
Desperate for a Solution
Realizing that his tattoo was holding him back, Mark desperately searched for ways to get it removed. But laser tattoo removal was expensive, requiring multiple sessions, and he simply couldn’t afford it.
Feeling hopeless, he decided to try something different—he turned to social media for help.
Mark took a selfie showing off his tattoo and posted it on Facebook, asking for a job and a second chance. His post quickly went viral, capturing the attention of thousands of people.
A Life-Changing Act of Kindness
One of the people who saw Mark’s post was the team at Sacred Tattoo, a well-known tattoo parlor in Auckland. Touched by his story, they decided to help him for free.
They reached out and offered free laser removal sessions to erase the “Devast8” tattoo from his face. It was an incredible act of kindness that proved how social media could be used for good.
Thanks to their generosity, Mark finally had a chance to remove the painful reminder of his past and move forward with his life.
A New Beginning
Mark’s story didn’t just stop at getting his tattoo removed. After his post went viral, he also landed a job! A scaffolding company called PR Contracting saw his story and decided to give him a chance. They offered him a position, paying $22 an hour, allowing him to support his family and truly start over.
Mark’s journey is a powerful reminder that everyone deserves a second chance. His story went from a bad decision in prison to a fresh start, all thanks to social media, kindness, and determination.
What do you think of Mark’s incredible transformation? Share your thoughts in the comments below!