Co Antrim beautician sentenced over unlawful supply of Botox and prescription medicines
- Love Ballymena
- 5 minutes ago
- 3 min read
A Co Antrim beautician has received a suspended prison sentence and fines totalling £3,600 after being convicted of unlawfully possessing prescription medicines intended for sale or supply from an aesthetics clinic operating at her home.
Nadine Poole, 39, of Whitehill Lodge, Lisburn, was sentenced at Lisburn Magistrates’ Court after previously being found guilty of 12 offences under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 and a further offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
She received fines totalling £3,600 for the medicines offences and a three-month prison sentence, suspended for three years, for the Misuse of Drugs Act offence.
Botox, semaglutide and other medicines seized
The case involved the unlawful possession of licensed and unlicensed prescription medicines intended for sale or supply.
They included injectable Botulinum toxin type A, commonly known as Botox, along with hydroxocobalamin, hyaluronidase, semaglutide and lidocaine.
Poole was also convicted of unlawfully possessing gabapentin, a Class C controlled drug, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
At an earlier hearing in May, the court heard that Department of Health Medicines Regulatory Group (MRG) enforcement officers visited Poole’s home at Whitehill Lodge in January 2025.
Officers discovered and seized a range of unlawfully held prescription medicines which were intended for sale or supply from the address, where an aesthetics clinic was operating.
Public warned about unregulated medicines
Peter Moore, Senior Medicines Enforcement Officer with the Department of Health, who directed the investigation, said the prosecution demonstrated the consequences of bypassing controls designed to protect patients and the medicines supply chain.
He said:
“Today’s conviction sends a strong message that there are consequences if a person attempts to bypass the regulated system and its controls which are in place to ensure public safety and the integrity of the medicines supply chain.
“I would urge people to consider the implications of buying medicines from dubious or unregulated sources – there is no way of knowing what you are buying is what you think it is, and this can have serious consequences for your health. People should be suspicious of unusually cheap prices, treatments offered in domestic settings, or practitioners who cannot provide proper credentials.”
Aaron McKendry, Interim Head of the Medicines Regulatory Group, said the Department would continue taking action against the illegal promotion, supply or misuse of medicines.
He added:
“The Department is committed to taking all possible steps to combat the illegal promotion, supply or misuse of medicines and when appropriate, to alert the public about the dangers of using medicines outside of the regulated supply chain.
“It is vital that people take prescription only medicines after consultation with their GP, pharmacist or other healthcare professional who have access to patient health records and can consider the risks and benefits associated with every medicine.”
How to report concerns
Anyone with concerns or suspicions about the unlawful use of medicines can report them to the Department of Health’s Medicines Regulatory Group by emailing:
Anyone who suspects a medicine has been falsified is advised to discuss the matter with a healthcare professional, such as a pharmacist, and report it through the https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/Yellow Card reporting system here.
The case comes with a wider warning from medicines enforcement officials for people considering aesthetic treatments or purchasing prescription medicines: check the credentials of the person providing the treatment and be particularly cautious about medicines obtained outside the regulated supply chain.
