A Co Wicklow resident who illegally sold body-building steroids worldwide from a south Dublin address is to serve four months in prison from the end of this month.
Brian Wainstein (42), a South African national with an address at Bank Lodge, Knockraheen, Roundwood, received orders for the banned drugs by e-mail from customers all over the world, including the US. He used the name "Barry Benjamin" on his e-mail messages.
He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to nine charges arising out of the possession, sale and distribution of the substances at Crosthwaite Park South, Dún Laoghaire, in 2003.
Judge Martin Nolan said that until he heard the submission by defence counsel Bernard Condon he had been "leaning towards" jailing Wainstein for 12 months by reason of the seriousness of his supply of steroids worldwide.
He noted Mr Condon's submission that Wainstein had pleaded guilty and so avoided what might have been a long trial, along with other matters put forward on his behalf.
However, he added that Wainstein "cannot avoid custody" completely.
"I have decided to impose a two-year sentence, but to suspend all but four months of it which he must serve so that he will have a taste of prison."
Judge Nolan agreed with a request by Mr Condon to defer the start of the sentence to July 30th, when Wainstein will surrender himself to Det Sgt John McGing at Terenure Garda station at 10am.
Det Sgt McGing told prosecuting counsel Remy Farrell that illicit substances valued at €15,000 were recovered at the Dún Laoghaire premises on September 16th, 2003.
He said the authorities were alerted to the offence as a result of problems with the delivery through international distributors.
The substances recovered were analysed by Dr Hugo Bonnar and found to be illegal steroids.