A Newcastle pharmacist has been convicted of supplying a prohibited drug, fined $800 and given an 18-month good behaviour bond, over his involvement in the provision of steroids without prescription.
The sentencing hearing in Maitland Local Court last week finalised the case initiated in 2016 when Phillip Slater was investigated for the supply of restricted substances and illicit drugs.
At the time he was a part owner of six pharmacies including Amcal Max Rutherford, Telarah Pharmacy, McKeachies Run Pharmacy, The Morpeth Pharmacy, Amcal Waratah and Old Bar Pharmacy, according to a Newcastle Herald report.
Police stopped his car in East Maitland in Apr 2016 and found boxes of testosterone, phentermine and other drugs, with police alleging he was supplying them for an unlawful purpose, outside of work hours and without a prescription.
According to a statement of facts, Slater told the police he was "just transporting some stock between my shops...I'm a pharmacist".
Subsequent raids of his home and pharmacies found other illicit drugs, with the magistrate saying last week that Slater was "helping himself to discarded drugs for recreational use".
Although the prosecutor urged a custodial sentence, the judge instead imposed the good behaviour bond and $800 fine, recognising Slater's career as a pharmacist had been ruined.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 02 May 18
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 02 May 18