Steroid dealers spared jail by court (From Gazette)

Steroid dealers spared jail by court

12:00pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in Clacton, Frinton & Walton

TWO men involved in advertising and selling thousands of pounds worth of bodybuilding steroids have avoided jail sentences.

A court heard how the class C and prescription-only steroids were advertised and sold on websites run by Steven Corbersmith and Stefan Hazell.

Thousands of pounds worth of supplements, including sustanon, nandrolone and methandienone were advertised and sold by the two men.

Most of the products involved were used by bodybuilders, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

Corbersmith, 35, admitted seven charges relating to supplying, possessing, attempting to supply and advertising the substances on a website.

The 35-year-old, of Grasmere Gardens, Kirby Cross, was jailed for 12 months suspended for two years and given a 200-hour work order.

The court heard he had a previous conviction for a similar matter and was facing a proceeds of crime probe.

Stefan Hazell, 27, of Dugmore Avenue, Kirby-le-Soken, admitted five five charges of attempting to sell the bodybuilding drugs and advertising medicinal supplements on another website.

He was jailed for six months suspended for two years and also received a 200-hour work order.

The court heard the products were sold between September 2008 and November 2011.

Philippa Beswick, mitigating for Corbersmith, told the court there was no chance of him ever returning to a court.

He had stopped taking steroids and had moved on in his life, Miss Beswick said.

Hazell's barrister, David Howell, said he played a lesser role and had never tried to hide his involovement.

He had expressed remorse and references spoke highly of him, the court heard.