A 34-year-old has been fined £250 for trying to import anabolic steroids to the island.

Mark Peter Richards admitted production (importation) of a controlled drug to the island.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that a suspicious package was intercepted at the Isle of Man Post Office sorting office on July 3.

It was addressed to Richards and found to contain eight vials of a liquid substance, later confirmed as anabolic steroids.

Richards, who lives in Waverley Terrace, Ramsey, was said to have made multiple calls to the Post Office inquiring about the whereabouts of the parcel.

On October 5 he attended a voluntary interview at police headquarters and admitted ordering the drugs online.

A probation report said that Richards had been using steroids for around 18 months and had ordered them, for £50, for personal use.

He was said to be working with mental health services and had recently served a short sentence for a Covid regulation breach.

Richards told probation that he was going to self-refer to Motiv8.

Defence advocate James Peterson asked for credit to be given for his client’s admissions to police and his early guilty plea.

’He admitted the vials were steroids which saved getting them tested,’ said the advocate.

’At the time he ordered them he didn’t realise he was committing an offence. He says if he realised it was illegal he wouldn’t have done it.’

Magistrates also ordered Richards to pay £125 prosecution costs, which he will pay, along with the fine, at a rate of £10 per week.