An unemployed electrician made thousands of pounds selling illegal steroids to friends and gym club members, a court was told.
Christopher Drew, who pleaded guilty to five counts of supplying anabolic steroids, was told by a judge that he was involved in the “shady side of sports enhancement”.
The 24-year-old, of Well Lane, Little Witley, near Worcester, was living near Powick when police found a haul of Class C prescription drugs in his car. There were more than 3,500 tablets or vials of steroids, worth about £1,300. Gareth Walters, prosecuting at Worcester Crown Court yesterday said Drew also had £1,100 in cash and a £40 cheque. Although he initially told officers it was money left over from a loan, he admitted – after police found incriminating messages on his mobile phone – that it was profit from selling the drugs.
“When his phone and the substances had been analysed he was interviewed again,” said Mr Walters. “He said he had been selling steroids for a few months, but only to a closed circuit of people.
“The drugs are used to build muscle and tone. He sold them to users of the local gym and kept the money to fund his own lifestyle.”
Anabolic steroids, which have a similar effect to the male hormone testosterone, can only be prescribed by licensed general practitioners.
Sentencing Drew, Recorder Ruth Dean said the case crossed the custody threshold and there were a number of aggravating features, but she agreed with defence solicitor Lisa Hancox that the pre-sentence report showed he was making progress. She said: “These offences are serious; they are part of the shady side of sports enhancement.
“You’re relatively young and I’m putting this offending down to relative immaturity.”
Drew was sentenced to six months in jail suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and must adhere to an electronically tagged curfew for the next 20 weeks.
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