Leopard Man of Skye, once world's most tattooed man, dies aged 80

Tom Leppard has died aged 80. Picture: Facebookplaceholder image
Tom Leppard has died aged 80. Picture: Facebook

A former soldier who became famous for the leopard spot tattoos that covered most of his body has died aged 80.

Tom Leppard – born Tom Wooldridge – was known as the Leopard Man Of Skye. He lived in a bothy on the island for more than two decades but had moved to a care home in Inverness, where he passed away.

He was once recognised as the world’s most tattood man by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Mr Leppard, whose Skye bothy was located by Loch na Bèiste, was known to travel to the mainland by kayak for supplies.

He lived a solitary life before moving back to the mainland, saying: “My life hasn’t changed much - I never bothered people when I lived in the bothy, and they didn’t bother me, and I’m not really that interested in what else is going on outside.”

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