Job hunter says he's being rejected by employers due to his neck tattoo tribute to his grandad

A job hunter claims he has being unfairly discriminated against after he was rejected by dozens of employers – over his enormous neck tattoo.

Joe Parsons, 21, got the £250 six-inch throbbing red heart with turquoise angel wings in memory of his late grandfather while he worked in a factory.

But he claims that, while he has no problem getting around 30 interviews, he has never managed to get a job thanks to his huge inking.

Fed-up Joe, from Collyhurst, North Manchester, insists he doesn’t regret getting the extreme body art – but wishes potential bosses could see past it.

“Before I got the tattoo people thought I was a happy, confident person. Now it feels like people think I’m full of my self and that I don’t give a damn,” said Joe.

“That’s just not who I am. I’m just a normal person and all I want is a decent job.

“There’s definitely a stigma attached which there shouldn’t be. I do think it’s a form of discrimination.

“I don’t want to get it removed. It means so much to me.”

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Joe went under the needle in November 2016 while working at the McVities factory in Stockport.

It was in memory of his granddad Thomas Parsons, 63, who died in a care home in August last year.

Joe was forced to leave his job in January after his mum was attacked in the street and he quit to take care of her.

She developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – a mental illness triggered by a terrifying event – and needed full-time support from her son.

“She’s not been the same since then,” he said.

“I had to look after her pretty much full time which was why I left my job after Christmas.

“I needed to be at home for her.”

Joe started looking for a job in January but has been rejected 30 times for jobs at Topshop, Next and even TK Maxx where he was previously employed – before his tattoo.

His lack of luck comes despite four years of experience in retail, hospitality and call centres.

Joe has been supporting him mum financially said the situation has become desperate in the run up to Christmas.