Viagra man escapes prison term

By Rob Virtue on July 24, 2008 10:45 AM |

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A GROCER who confessed to illegally selling sex drugs over the internet has been spared jail.

Hafid Essadki, 39, from the Isle of Dogs, was ordered to pay £2,500 in fines and costs at Snaresbrook Crown Court for selling Viagra and Cialis without a licence yesterday (Wednesday).

Essadki, who lived at Broadwalk Place, Trafalgar Way when he was charged, had pleaded guilty to illegally selling the drugs at a previous hearing.

Mitigating, Hugh O'Donoghue, for the defence, said Essadki had been made to sell the drugs by his boss at the time, Hamed Samir, after not being able to pay back a debt. Mr Samir is currently living in Egypt.

The sex drugs were sold through two websites. Following an investigation by the Department of Health, Essadki was charged with seven counts under the Medicines Act 1968.

In court, Essadki was fined £200 for each of the first five charges and ordered to pay £1,500 in costs.

Judge William Kennedy said: "I think you are an honest man but you have made a mistake, one you shouldn't have made.

"When you look back on this you will realise there were questions you should have asked.

"Those who trade legally in pharmaceutical products know the boundaries they should not exceed."