Illegal growth hormone pair ordered to forfeit £65,000

TWO men convicted of importing and selling illegal body building supplements have had to hand over £65,000 under the Proceeds of Crime act.

Christopher Taylor (45), of Haugh Green, Rawmarsh, and Richard Flynn (41), of Manor Close, Rawmarsh, pleaded guilty to supplying Class C drugs at a hearing in October 2009.

Taylor was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for a year, and 80 hours of community service.

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Flynn received a year-long sentence, suspended for 18 months, and 120 hours’ community service.

But on Friday the men were also ordered to pay back over £65,000 at a proceeds of crime hearing at Sheffield Crown Court.

Taylor was found to have benefited by £58,243.25 from the enterprise.

He must now pay £52,480 within six months or face an 18-month sentence.

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Flynn was found to have benefited to the tune of £81,233.23.

He must pay £13,000 within two months or risk a month-long jail sentence.

A South Yorkshire Police investigation, in conjunction with the Medicines and

Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, revealed that the pair had conspired to import a human growth hormone called Hygetropin along with other body building supplements.

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Most of the drugs had been imported from China between June 2007 and October 2008.

Financial investigator Darren Walsh, from South Yorkshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “This was a well-organised commercial venture into the importation and sale of human growth hormones.

“The Proceeds of Crime Act allows South Yorkshire Police to pursue, through the courts, the confiscation of assets of those involved in criminality to ensure that crime does not pay and the legislation has been used to great effect in this case.”