The ‘secret’ daughter of a legendary tattooist to the stars is hoping her own ink will prove she deserves a share of his £413,000 estate – a claim contested by his widow.
Dennis Cockell inked stars such as Paula Yates, Adam Ant and members of the Sex Pistols, Stray Cats and Bananarama from his Diamond Jacks studio in London’s Soho, which continues operating to this day.
He retired from tattooing full time in 2007 after taking on a second career as a Buckingham Palace handyman – but continued making guest appearances at the studio until his death in 2022 and the age of 74.
But his estate is at the centre of a tug of war between his wife and mother of five of his children Fong Yuet Cockell, 65, and his Australian daughter Cindylee Cockell, who claims she was her father’s ‘biggest secret’.
Mr Cockell’s wife did not know her husband had sired another child – only learning of her existence when she filed a claim for ‘reasonable provision’ from his estate.
She later proved his paternity through DNA testing – and showcased the tattoos her father had inked on her skin as proof that they had been close before his death.
Cindylee claims she should be entitled to a share of the estate because the ‘overwhelming grief’ of his death, and her mother’s shortly afterwards, has left her so depressed and anxious she is unable to work.
In a case which began at the High Court last month, she is suing her father’s widow and her half–sister Natalie Fong Cockell, acting as executor of his estate, seeking £42,200.
She also wants a valuable sheet of her father’s tattoo flash – pre–drawn designs by his hand – that is worth thousands.
Speaking via videolink from Sydney, Cindylee told judge Deputy Master Timothy Bowles that Mr Cockell had promised to move her from Australia to London and support her financially prior to his death.
She was two years old when she learned he was her father and had visited him in London four times before his death.
She claimed the pair had made plans to relocate her and employ her as a receptionist once her three children had finished school, she said.
Denying the widow’s claims that Cindylee was not close to her dad, she told the judge the tattoos her dad gave her proved their bond.
‘I have all the evidence of our relationship. My dad did my arms on every visit to London. That’s evidence,’ she said.
‘I do understand why the family wants to deny my existence. Dad had many secrets and it seems I was the biggest one of all.
‘That said, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m his first born and a rightful and legal heir to dad’s estate like everybody else. I deserve to be treated as such.
‘Dad was always very supportive of me and was supporting my move to London. He did offer me employment and help with an apartment. He continued to work full time after his so–called retirement in 2007.
‘I believe I have been very accommodating. I was fair and reasonable in asking for less than an equal share of dad’s estate and it’s a shame we had to end up in court.
‘Had the defendants chosen to communicate and negotiate with me in a fair and respectful manner, there would have been no need for anybody to spend legal costs in the first place.
‘The death of my father and mother had a devastating effect on my day to day life, I have anxiety and depression which have been exacerbated by overwhelming grief.’
The court heard that Cindylee had formerly worked as a nanny and a PA but is now on Australian jobseekers’ payment, having been signed off by her doctor as incapable of working for ‘years’ due to severe ‘anxiety and depression’.
She maintains this was triggered by the death of Mr Cockell, followed shortly by that of her mother a few months later.
The money she is seeking would be used for rent and a car, as well as repaying cash she borrowed from her son for solicitors’ bills, and to attend counselling.
But widow Fong Yuet Cockell has fired back, claiming Cindylee is not as grief–stricken as she claims.
She has also suggested she could be forced to sell her home if the claim succeeds.
Nicholas Michael, for Dennis’ widow said: ‘The deceased had no obligations and responsibilities towards Cindylee, but was married to Fong and she depended on the deceased financially and emotionally.
‘Cindylee was estranged from the deceased until she was eight. After that she only met him on a few sporadic occasions and she has never been financially dependent on the deceased. The claim should be dismissed.’
Commenting on her submissions, the judge told Cindylee: ‘I’m not sure you can necessarily believe everything your father told you.
‘His widow and his children are not sitting on enormous amounts of money that they are hiding from the court.’
Originally from Worcester, Dennis Cockell shot to fame in the 1980s after tattooing stars including The Sex Pistols’ Steve Jones, TV presenter Paula Yates and punk rockers 999 and Adam Ant.
His first London studio was on Finchley Road and he later set up ‘Diamond Jack’s’ in Soho, close to the Raymond Revue Bar.
He married wife Fong in 1982 and the pair had five children, setting up home together in a £900,000 house in Mill Hill, north London.
As his tattoo career reached its twilight, Dennis took on another role as an ‘odd–job man at Buckingham Palace’ during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the widow’s barrister told the judge.
He was paid £14,500 a year for his efforts towards the upkeep of the Royal estate.
When he died in October 2022, fans hailed him as ‘a true icon’ and ‘the king of rock and roll tattoos’.
The judge has now reserved his decision in the case until a later date.
