A man who caused a national outbreak of ear-deforming bacteria has been jailed for nine months.

More than 160 people, including children, were infected by bacteria found in a saline product applied to their ears after piercings.

One pregnant woman spent 10 days in hospital after she developed an infection following an ear piercing.

A company director has been sent to jail after a pump spray he concocted led to dozens of people developing serious bacterial infections. More than 160 victims, including children, suffered abscesses or infections due to a bacteria found in the aftercare saline product used on fresh piercings. Caption: Sofia Luis Hobb's infected ear
More than 160 victims, including children, suffered abscesses or infections due to a bacteria found in the aftercare saline product used on fresh piercings (Picture: Lincolnshire Live/BPM Media)

Prosecutor Tony Stanford told the court: ‘The pain she suffered was horrendous.’

One of the victims, who was a GCSE student at the time, said her ear was permanently disfigured and it will need ‘cosmetic surgery’.

While another schoolgirl said she now has ‘cauliflower ear’ after her lobe became infected.

Nottingham Crown Court heard how businessman Maninder Singh Sagoo made the saline product ‘without conducting safety assessments’.

The product caused a national outbreak of pseudomonas aeruginosa – a bacteria that had not been seen in the UK ever before.

His company, Lion Care Products, which supplied the product to piercing businesses, was fined £15,000.

A company director has been sent to jail after a pump spray he concocted led to dozens of people developing serious bacterial infections. More than 160 victims, including children, suffered abscesses or infections due to a bacteria found in the aftercare saline product used on fresh piercings. Caption: Victim Sofia Luis Hobb's ear before the infection (left) and after (right)
Some ears were ‘permanently disfigured’ by the saline solution (Picture: Lincolnshire Live/BPM Media)

He pleaded guilty to eight offences, with many victims seeking compensation.

More than £124,000 has been paid out so far.

Sagoo confirmed the product was manufactured at Lion Care’s premises at Ellesmere Business Park in Basford, Nottinghamshire.

Mr Stanford said: ‘Test results confirmed that Lion Care Products was the source of the outbreak.’

A company director has been sent to jail after a pump spray he concocted led to dozens of people developing serious bacterial infections. More than 160 victims, including children, suffered abscesses or infections due to a bacteria found in the aftercare saline product used on fresh piercings. Caption: A company director has been sent to jail after a pump spray he concocted led to dozens of people developing serious bacterial infections.
Nottingham businessman Maninder Singh Sagoo was sent to jail for nine months (Picture: Lincolnshire Live/BPM MEDIA)

He also had ‘no specific cleaning or maintenance process for equipment’ and no ‘cleaning records kept’.

His barrister, Steven Gosnell, said his client was ‘bitterly sorry for what he has done’.

Judge Sampson told him: ‘I have heard of pain, of fear of permanent cosmetic disfigurement.’

Cllr Toby Neal said: ‘The harm caused in this case by putting profit ahead of the safety of customers, plus the penalties imposed by the court, should send a message to businesses that they must comply with the relevant legislation to ensure that any cosmetic products they manufacture or supply are safe.’

Head of Nottingham Trading Standards, Jane Bailey, added: ‘The pain and suffering experienced by victims of this terrible infection was wholly avoidable, but Mr Sagoo took no care whatsoever to ensure that the product he was manufacturing and supplying was safe.’

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