Steroids dealer’s crime profits confiscated

A BUSINESSMAN said to have lived the high life by running an illegal international operation importing millions of pounds worth of human growth hormones and steroids into the UK has been told to pay £300,000 under a confiscation order.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Nov 2011, 09:28 BST

Nicholas Aristotelous, 41, of Roker Lane, Pudsey, was jailed for seven years in December last year after admitting conspiracy to contravene customs restrictions, possessing drug with intent and transferring criminal property.

Leeds Crown Court heard that most of the drugs imported were going to bodybuilders.

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Judge Christopher Batty yesterday assessed Aristotelous’s benefit from crime at £2.5m with realiseable assets of £300,000.

He was ordered to pay that amount in six months or face a further three-and-a-half years in prison. The judge also imposed a ban barring him from travelling abroad for four years and a serious crime prevention order.

Similar prevention orders were imposed on two men also involved. Andrew Fletcher, 41, of Penny Hill Drive, Bradford, was jailed for 41 months for conspiracy, possession and transfer of criminal property. His benefit was assessed at £431,494 and the available amount to repay was £94,352 or face two years in default.

Ben Womack, 34 from Cheshire, was jailed for four years for the conspiracy, transferring criminal property and being concerned in the supply of an anabolic steroid.

His benefit was assessed at £2m and he was ordered to pay back £121,150 or face two years in default.