Simple tattoo turns into nightmare

London: She wanted just three little stars tattooed on her face. But much to Kimberley Vlaminck's consternation, she ended up with a whole constellation.

Vlaminck, 18, says the Romanian tattooist Rouslan Toumaniantz misunderstood her instructions in French and English and gave her 56 stars. She claims she fell asleep during the process.

She is now suing him for more than £10,000 (Dh60,000). "I cannot go out on to the street, I am so embarrassed," she sobbed. "I just look horrible."

Toumaniantz created the tattoo in Belgium. He denies Miss Vlaminck's claim, saying she knew 'exactly what she wanted'.

He added: "She was awake and looked into the mirror several times as the procedure was taking place. The trouble all started when she went home and her father and boyfriend threw a fit. They are saying things like I doped her or hypnotised her. What rubbish!"

To remove the stars Vlaminck would require laser surgery. But it would leave white marks on her face.