Chilling photos show a man's face transformation as he descends into a life of crime

Photos of a man show his heartbreaking transformation into a seasoned criminal over time.

The images are of Robert Hardister from Florida, and begin when he was 18 years old, ending when he is at the age of 25.

Hardister aged 18. (Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office)

And the pictures show a stark transformation in just seven years as the teen is arrested again and again by police for a variety of offences over the years.

Hardister goes from a floppy-haired teenager to covered in face tattoos and with an increasingly vacant look, with drooping eyelids.

The images are a stark demonstration of the often cyclical nature of crime, and how a lack of successful rehabilitation and community support networks can lead to someone's life rapidly spiralling out of control.

Hardister with some facial tattoos. (Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office)

Hardister was caught last year sleeping in a stolen truck in a Walmart parking lot, telling cops that he was not aware that the truck was stolen.

He went on to tell police that he had borrowed the Ford F-150 from a friend to help him move into a new apartment.

Hardister went on to say that he had paid $20 to borrow the truck.

Nonetheless, he was still charged with vehicle theft after being arrested by officers.

His tattoos quickly proliferated. (Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office)

Court records indicate that Hardister has previously pleaded guilty to theft charges and has spent time in prison.

The series of booking photos show Hardister's growing proliferation of face tattoos as he is repeatedly arrested.

When he was arrested on February 17, 2013 by Tequesta police, his facial tattoos have grown, and include a star under his right eye, as well as lettering on his chin, left cheek, and neck.

Hardister had an SS tattoo between his eyebrows. (Johnson County Sheriff's Office)

But when he was arrested again in July for violating probation, his face was almost entirely covered in tattoos.

It's a huge change from his first mugshot back in 2009 when he was 18-years-old.

In that first picture, he has longer hair, and there isn't a tattoo yet in sight on his face.

Some of the designs on his face were also covered up later, including the letters 'SS' tattooed between his eyebrows, a design which was later covered over by another design.

Hardister's final picture with his face almost entirely covered. (Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office)

The pictures date from between 2009 and 2017, with Hardister being arrested on charges including burglary, theft, and vehicle theft as well as violating the terms of his parole.

In 2012, Hardister was sent to prison for nine months for stealing a motor vehicle, and has been arrested several times since then.