He boasts an obscene tattoo, but was forced by the police to cover it up. He was close to being arrested

Richard Hart’s tattoo of a naked woman stretching her legs from his chest to his mid-body has sparked controversy, but the man has no regrets about getting the tattoo.

Richard Hart, 60, drew the controversial tattoo himself, which depicts a naked woman spreading her legs from his chest to mid-body. He etched the tattoo into his skin in a four-hour session at a local tattoo parlor, which cost £55, writes mirror.co.uk.

Despite being approached by police while on holiday in Spain in May 2003 and told to cover up or face arrest, Richard insists he has no “no regrets” and thinks most people love the tattoo he got in Benidorm.

The retired bar owner from Swansea, Wales, said: “I got the idea after seeing my tattoo artist’s brother with a naked woman tattooed on him. I thought I could go on. Obviously, it’s a bit raunchy, but it never bothers me. The reaction to it varies, it’s either shocking, horrified, or laughing.”

Richard’s tattoo got him into trouble while on holiday in Spain. He recalled: “I was in Benidorm and it was very hot, I took off my blouse and two policemen came and told me to cover up or they would handcuff me. We had a bit of a fight – I had to wear a T-shirt for the rest of the holiday.”

Richard, a former bar owner from Abergavenny, South Wales, has become a local celebrity thanks to his unique tattoo. “If I had a pound for every person who asked to take a picture with him, I’d be a very rich man. My partner thinks it’s fine, and so do my daughter Melissa, 38, and my son Alex, 35 – but I have to cover it up in front of the grandkids.”