Health shop owner supplied illegal bodybuilding drugs

Married dad of three Mark Dickson had his home and business premises raided by police, Hamilton Sheriff Court heard today.

Dickson (43), of Saffron Crescent, Netherton, admitted being concerned in the supply of testosterone and nandrolone between August 2014 and May last year.

The court heard he runs Protein Jakes in Wishaw.

Callum Forsyth, prosecuting, said boxes of both drugs, in pill and liquid form, were found in Dickson’s home. The total value was more than £2,000.

Phone records revealed he had also supplied a man with testosterene worth £400 and nandrolone with the same value.

Mr Forsyth told the court: “Testosterone is commonly abused by persons wishing to gain muscle mass in connection with bodybuilding. Nandrolone is a human growth hormone.”

Defence agent Tom Watters said his client’s business involves the lawful sale of health foods and supplements.

He pointed out that the possession of drugs such as testosterone and nandrolone is not illegal, but the supply is.

Mr Watters said: “He is asked constantly to supply substances like this and refuses constantly. However, he did agree to supply this person.

“He has one conviction dating back to 2002 for drug possession, but nothing else of that nature and this case is pretty much at the lower end of the scale.”

However, Sheriff Vincent Smith said the fact was Dickson had admitted “trafficking in drugs” which the courts view “most seriously”.

The sheriff deferred sentence until August 9 for background reports and told the accused: “You might receive a prison senence when you return to court so I advise you to put your affairs in order.”