Gym owner jailed for selling toxic diet pills in 'landmark' Scottish first

A gym owner from Falkirk has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for supplying toxic diet pills to "vulnerable" victims.

31-year-old Jamie George from Denny was given the 37 month term in Stirling Sheriff Court today, after he pleaded guilty in what prosecutors are calling a "landmark" conviction.

The pills George was making from his garden shed contained an industrial chemical called dinitrophenol, more commonly known as DNP.

'Rapid fat burner'

The substance has legal uses as a pesticide, however it is often used as a "rapid fat burner" by bodybuilders.

The drug is known to make people very sick when it is consumed and can potentially be lethal - it is known to have killed at least 33 people in the UK.

The conviction came after an investigation by Police Scotland and Food Standards Scotland (FSS).

The investigation found that George was producing around 10,000 pills a month and supplying them locally, as well as internationally to the USA, Australia and Asia.

'33 deaths too many'

Head of food crime at FSS, Ron McNaughton, said: "DNP does have normal and conventional uses, but over the years, it has been supplied as a supplement to rapid weight loss and these are the dangers that we need to flag up as a result.

"It is not safe for human consumption under any circumstances.

"It's very welcome that we've got this first conviction but it's really important that we raise awareness to these dangers.

"If you consume DNP, you will likely become ill. There's a good chance you could become seriously ill, and ultimately, you could die.

"Since 2007, we are aware that 33 people have died and DNP has been responsible for those deaths.

"That's 33 deaths too many, and they all could have been avoided."

Victims hospitalised

DCI David MacGregor said: "We spoke to a number of vulnerable people who ordered DNP directly from him and some of them were hospitalised.

"The further risk to them could've been fatal if they hadn't sought that medical attention and it already has been linked to fatalities.

"The risks are real and clear.

"The conviction is great to let us show the work we're doing, but the message I really want to put across is for anyone considering using DNP - do not do it.

"It's potentially fatal, and the trauma for those involved who have lost family or friends is huge."

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