Steroid user illegally imported drug from Philippines, court is told

A self-employed plasterer who imported body-building drugs from the Philippines has avoided being locked up.
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A package addressed to Stephen Robert Bedford was intercepted at Coventry Airport in 2018 that contained vials of anabolic steroids.

The 40-year-old admitted a charge of importing controlled drugs at Leeds Crown Court today.

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Border agency officers opened the suspicious package when it arrived at the Midlands airport on June 29, 2018.

The steroids were intercepted at Coventry Airport.The steroids were intercepted at Coventry Airport.
The steroids were intercepted at Coventry Airport.

An analysis of the 28 vials found they contained the testosterone drug, which is often associated with body building and is categorised as Class C drugs in the UK, meaning they can only be supplied though prescription.

The amount was consistent with personal use and Bedford told police, through a prepared statement, that he admitted importing the drug, but it was for his own personal use.

Police were initially unable to gain access to his iPhone because it required a pass code.

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Eventually he gave them the correct code and they found evidence on the phone that he intended to use some for himself, but sell the remainder.

It was found that he had paid £870 for the drugs, and that he had previously received at least one other consignment.

Bedford, of Grove Lane, Knottingley, has 12 convictions for 14 previous offences dating as far back as 1985.

Little mitigation was disclosed to the court from his barrister, Andrew Petterson, other than Bedford had no previous convictions for drug supplying.

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Judge Tom Bayliss QC handed him a four-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, and told him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

He said: "You are no stranger to the courts but you ordered anabolic steroids from the Philippines, the price was £870.

"These would have had a significant financial value in your hands and you expected financial gain for yourself.

"You claimed they were just for personal use, which was a lie."