Bodybuilder Avoids Prison For Illegal £1/2 Million Steroids Trade

A well-known Essex bodybuilder and gym boss, who made over £500,000 selling illegal human growth hormone and steroids, which potentially put customers at risk of HIV and mad cow's disease dodged prison with a suspended sentence today.

Heavily-tattooed Steven Luke Corbersmith, 34, (pictured) of Grasmere Gardens, Frinton-on-Sea shipped the unlicensed and unregulated body-building drugs all over the world.

His gym, SLC Health and Fitness, of Anglian House, Unit One, Foundary Yard, Hall Lane, Walton On The Naze was raided by the Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency on September 17, 2008, who seized a huge variety of illegal drugs.

One Chinese-manufactured injectable drug - purporting to contain human growth hormone (HGH) - instead contained Albumin, a human blood product, which carries the risk of HIV and CJD.

"Members of the public seem only to willing to buy these drugs to improve their strength or looks or whatever," Southwark Crown Court Judge Christopher Hardy told father-of-two Corbersmith. "It seems for a time you made a considerable profit from it."

Corbersmith pleaded guilty to six charges brought under the Medicines Act and Misuse of Drugs Act and was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years, placed under a six-month supervision order, ordered to perform 100 hours community service and pay £2,500 costs.

He pleaded guilty to selling Tamoxifen, without a prescription, over the Internet and attempting to sell Class C drug Somatropin between July 8 and August 2, 2008.

He also admitted possessing HGH drugs Trenbolone, Somatropin, Methandienone, Nondrolone, Testosterone, Mesterclone, Chorionic Gonadotropin and anabolic steroid Stonozolol, with intent to supply, at his gym.

Corbersmith also pleaded guilty to possessing Indian-manufactured Viagra copycat drug Kamagra and possessing Tamofixen, with intent to supply, on September 17 and supplying Class C drug Somatropin via the Internet between April 1 and September 15, 2008.

Prosecutor Mr. Christopher Foulkes told the court the defendant's website was investigated by the agency and two successful Internet test-purchases were made.

"SLCFitness was unlawfully selling and advertising prescription-only medicines and controlled drugs," he explained. "One did not contain HGH, but Albumin, a human blood product, which may not have been tested for HIV or CJD. It presented a potential health hazard to the public."

In a locked gym cupboard were HGH and anabolic steroid drugs ready to be shipped to customers in the USA, France, Italy, the Philippines and all over the U.K.

Two laptops were seized at Corbersmith's home, which contained details of his Internet sales, along with a box of receipts and credit card details.

The prosecution estimate the defendant made £518,814 selling illegal drugs between March 2007 and September 15, 2008 and they will pursue these illicit profits under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

He confessed typically paying £140 wholesale for medicines, then selling them on for £405.

Corbersmith's lawyer Miss Phillipa Beswick claimed the profits were not so great as all the orders were not fulfilled.

"Mr. Corbersmith has for a long time been a bodybuilder. He was originally purchasing the drugs for his sole use and there were other associates who realised it would be cheaper to buy in bulk for themselves.

"At the time it was non-profit. He did not realise when he started up this business the illegality of it. It started off small and the sales escalated.

"He is a well-known local man, well-known for his charity work," added the lawyer, explaining her client ran the London Marathon in 2005, raising money for a fibrosis charity and has locally raised funds for the Sea Cadets and Lifeboat Service.

Judge Hardy announced he was persuaded to suspend the sentence because Corbersmith is currently waiting cancer-test results after two lumps were found in his bowel, largely looks after his daughters aged 2 and 5 and has had the case hanging over him a considerable time.