Overview

• The 15-year-old victim fainted eight minutes into a sunbed session in June 2022 and suffered catastrophic burns requiring plastic surgery.
• Ryan Sihra, owner of Abyss Tanning Studio, admitted to failing statutory age and safety checks and was sentenced at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.
• The tanning bed lacked an emergency stop cord, contributing to the severity of the girl's injuries, which included permanent scarring.
• The victim described feeling suicidal in a court statement, highlighting the psychological toll of her injuries and ongoing three-year recovery process.
• Middlesbrough Council praised the enforcement efforts of its Environmental Health and Trading Standards teams, emphasizing the importance of salon safety compliance.