No jail for man with ’roid stash

‘‘ YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT IT TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO PRESCRIBE (STEROIDS) TO YOU, NOT TAKEN IT INTO YOUR OWN HANDS.

A TOOWOOMBA man caught with 144 vials of steroids has avoided a jail sentence, claiming they were only for his personal use.

The Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard how police came across Daniel Lee Russell’s staggering haul in Glenvale in November last year.

In total, Russell was caught with 1440 grams worth of testosterone, trenbolone and boldenone.

The charges would normally be dealt with by a higher court, but due to police not alleging a commercial aspect to the offence Russell was able to be sentenced by a magistrate yesterday.

He pleaded guilty to the charges. Russell’s lawyer Alastair McDougall told the court the 35-year-old mechanic had previous prescriptions for steroids in his house at the time, and had never sold them for a profit.

Instead, it was argued, Russell sought the drugs out due to having low levels of testosterone.

Police found over 1000ml of steroids, packaging equipment and syringes during the search.

Mr McDougall submitted a letter from Russell’s doctor confirming the father-of-three had below average levels of testosterone. “This is very out of character,” he said.

“He has been a taxpayer since he left school and has previous prescriptions for some of the drugs.

“But their weight is larger and that is an aggravating feature.”

During his sentencing, police prosecutor Rowan Brewster-Webb argued that the convictions should be recorded against Russell due to the serious weight and gravity of the charges, regardless of Russell’s medical condition.

Acting Magistrate Roger Stark placed Russell on an 18month probation order and did not record a conviction against him.

“You should have left it to medical professionals to prescribe them to you, not taken it into your own hands,” he said.

ACTING MAGISTRATE ROGER STARK