Student bought illegal drugs at his gym

A TORQUAY student bought 177 illegal pink tablets at a gym believing they were steroids which would build up muscle, a court has been told.

Thomas Birbeck, 20, of Teignmouth Road, did not know the pills were the Class C drug methandienone, Torquay Magistrates' Court heard.

He pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs and admitted driving without insurance.

Prosecutor Madeline Jackson said the drug is only available legally on prescription.

She said: "He bought the pink tablets from someone at his gym in the belief they were steroids that would build up his muscle.

"He thought it was legal to possess some form of steroids and he thought the steroids he had were, in fact, legal. They were not, hence the charge."

She said police also found a quantity of other tablets in Birbeck's home, which were not illegal drugs.

Ms Jackson said police had searched Birbeck's bedroom at home, where he lives with his parents when he comes home from Bristol University, after arresting him for driving without insurance in Union Street on August 4.

Mitigating, Mervyn Williams said Birbeck had been driving his father's BMW, adding: "He took the car and did not bother to check whether or not he was insured.

"He simply drove it and was stopped by the police. It's a simple as that."

Talking about the drugs, Mr Williams told the bench: "He goes to a local gymnasium. He goes there on a regular basis because he does different types of sports.

"Somebody asked him in the gym if he wanted to buy two forms of tablets, a so-called fat-burner and the other, a type of steroid to build up muscle, the pink tablets turned out to be controlled drugs.

"They had got a name on the packet and said they were made in China, so he thought 'Yep, you can buy them.'

"They are available, but they are only available on prescription. He did not know.

"As far as the other drugs are concerned, they are, in fact, perfectly legal.

"If he had gone to his doctors and explained what he did, his doctor may have prescribed them to him, who knows?"

Taking into account Birbeck's 'ignorance' about the drugs he had bought, magistrates fined him £83. For the driving offence he was also fined £83 and his license was endorsed with six points. He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and £25 costs.