Middlesbrough Tanning Salon Owner Jailed for Burns

Ryan Sihra, owner of Abyss Tanning Studio in Middlesbrough, was jailed after a 15-year-old girl suffered severe burns requiring plastic surgery and resulting in permanent scarring during an unsupervised sunbed session at his salon in June 2022. The girl fainted eight minutes into her session and lay against inadequately protected tubes, after being allowed to use the sunbed twice in two days without any age or skin type checks. The salon also lacked an emergency cord and Sihra had previously been warned about safety issues. Sihra admitted to failing statutory age and safety checks and expressed remorse for his actions. He received a 40-week prison sentence, was ordered to pay court costs and a victim surcharge. The case has had a lasting psychological impact on the victim and serves as a warning about neglecting safety regulations.