Singapore  - A Singapore court sentenced a tattoo artist who helped a friend tattoo his wife's breasts, abdomen and forearms for suspected infidelity to two years and 10 months in jail, news reports said Thursday.

The sentence for the tattooist, 41, was two months shorter than the husband's jail term. Like the husband, who was sentenced in 2007, he will also be given six strokes of the cane, the Straits Times newspaper reported.

Despite the tattooist pleading for a lighter sentence, the judge said she could not see a "substantial difference" between his culpability and the husband's.

Although the victim, now 34, has undergone several laser treatments to remove the tattoos, she is to be left with scars and skin damage.

The crime took place in August 2006 when the woman stayed at a friend's home because the relationship with her now-former husband was strained.

When she came home early one morning, her husband and the tattooist were waiting for her, having hatched the plan to tattoo her in revenge for suspected unfaithfulness.

The two men tied the victim to a bedframe and gagged her with a towel.

The tattooist then inked her breast, abdomen and forearms while the husband sat on the woman's legs.

After the ordeal, which lasted for half an hour, the victim was left tied up until her friend freed her. (dpa)