Shop owner who supplied steroids avoids jail stretch

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard accused helped his friend obtain steroids.

Married dad of three Mark Dickson had his home and business premises raided by police.

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

At Hamilton Sheriff Court last month he was branded a “drug trafficker” by Sheriff Vincent Smith who warned him to expect a prison stretch.

However, when Dickson returned to court for sentence today the sheriff ordered him to be supervised for 15 months and to do 150 hours of unpaid community work as an alternative to jail.

However, Dickson also faces having assets seized as the Crown is taking action against him under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The court heard Dickson runs Protein Jakes in Wishaw. Phone records revealed he had supplied a man with testosterone worth £400 and nandrolone with the same value.

Callum Forsyth, prosecuting, explained: “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 the Crown accepted Dickson was not supplying steroids on a commercial basis.

He stressed: “This is at the lower end of the scale. There was not a penny of profit. He was simply helping a friend source these items. He works very hard to support his wife and family.”