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Christchurch high-flyer's illegal body-building drugs business ends in jail
DAVID CLARKSON
Last updated 17:56, May 10 2017
Joshua Francis Townshend's high-flying lifestyle has come crashing down.
It was financed by illegal sales of body building drugs – his business had a turn-over of $300,000 in one year.
The 30-year-old has started a two-year jail term after admitting 129 charges under the Medicines Act.
Defence counsel Josh Lucas told the Christchurch District Court the offending arose during a time of Townshend's "high living" and his need to be the best.
He lived in a fancy Cashmere house, he said.
"It was all in an effort to impress everybody, including himself, probably."
The medicines were packed in bottles and vials and labelled under Townshend's brand name, "APS", the Ministry of Health said.
The products he sold were not of a pharmaceutical standard.
Townshend was blatant in his advertising and promotion of the medicines, the ministry said.
Medsafe estimated that, over a year, Townshend supplied more than 2000 10-millilitre bottles of clenbuterol and 2400 units of other medicines, which were primarily 10ml vials of anabolic steroids for injection.
The court heard his chaotic lifestyle continued while he was on home detention for earlier similar offending. The Ministry of Health said Townshend ignored its verbal warning in March 2013.
He committed two disqualified driving offences while on a community detention sentence for driving offences.
Sentencing Judge David Saunders on Wednesday said Townshend effectively gave "one-finger salute" to the courts and the orders they made.
The court heard Townshend was a changed man.
He had distanced himself from associates, engaged with charitable organisations and provided a cheque for $47,000 – the remains of the profits from the illegal medicine dealing.
Lucas said the cheque showed Townshend wanted everything to be "put behind him", with a change of attitude and demeanour.
Judge Saunders accepted the sentence could be reduced further, but prison still needed to be imposed.
He said he would be "derelict in my duty" if he did not impose a jail term for offending that occurred while on home detention for similar offending.
He imposed a series of jail terms totalling two years and disqualified Townshend from driving for a year.
The High Court already issued a restraining order for the $47,000 cheque and an order is likely to be sought for it to be forfeited to the Crown as proceeds of crime.
Medsafe compliance management branch manager Derek Fitzgerald said Townshend put the public's health at risk.
He said anyone who used medicines ordered from clenbuterol.co.nz or used steroids from other black market sources should seek advice from their doctor.
Christchurch high-flyer's illegal body-building drugs business ends in jail
Sentence handed down after steroid operation uncovered | Scoop News
Illegal steroid operation lands Christchurch man in jail
DAVID CLARKSON
Last updated 17:56, May 10 2017
Joshua Francis Townshend's high-flying lifestyle has come crashing down.
It was financed by illegal sales of body building drugs – his business had a turn-over of $300,000 in one year.
The 30-year-old has started a two-year jail term after admitting 129 charges under the Medicines Act.
Defence counsel Josh Lucas told the Christchurch District Court the offending arose during a time of Townshend's "high living" and his need to be the best.
He lived in a fancy Cashmere house, he said.
"It was all in an effort to impress everybody, including himself, probably."
The medicines were packed in bottles and vials and labelled under Townshend's brand name, "APS", the Ministry of Health said.
The products he sold were not of a pharmaceutical standard.
Townshend was blatant in his advertising and promotion of the medicines, the ministry said.
Medsafe estimated that, over a year, Townshend supplied more than 2000 10-millilitre bottles of clenbuterol and 2400 units of other medicines, which were primarily 10ml vials of anabolic steroids for injection.
The court heard his chaotic lifestyle continued while he was on home detention for earlier similar offending. The Ministry of Health said Townshend ignored its verbal warning in March 2013.
He committed two disqualified driving offences while on a community detention sentence for driving offences.
Sentencing Judge David Saunders on Wednesday said Townshend effectively gave "one-finger salute" to the courts and the orders they made.
The court heard Townshend was a changed man.
He had distanced himself from associates, engaged with charitable organisations and provided a cheque for $47,000 – the remains of the profits from the illegal medicine dealing.
Lucas said the cheque showed Townshend wanted everything to be "put behind him", with a change of attitude and demeanour.
Judge Saunders accepted the sentence could be reduced further, but prison still needed to be imposed.
He said he would be "derelict in my duty" if he did not impose a jail term for offending that occurred while on home detention for similar offending.
He imposed a series of jail terms totalling two years and disqualified Townshend from driving for a year.
The High Court already issued a restraining order for the $47,000 cheque and an order is likely to be sought for it to be forfeited to the Crown as proceeds of crime.
Medsafe compliance management branch manager Derek Fitzgerald said Townshend put the public's health at risk.
He said anyone who used medicines ordered from clenbuterol.co.nz or used steroids from other black market sources should seek advice from their doctor.
Christchurch high-flyer's illegal body-building drugs business ends in jail
Sentence handed down after steroid operation uncovered | Scoop News
Illegal steroid operation lands Christchurch man in jail
