Steroids and cash stored in Rhyl by doorman and gym boss in £2m drugs plot

A gym owner and doorman who used self-storage containers in Rhyl to store large quantities of steroids have been jailed for conspiracy to supply class C drugs. They had stored "industrial" amounts, across North Wales and the north-west of England, totalling 1,326,000 steroid tablets and 64,870 millilitres of liquid steroids worth a total of between £1.5m to £2.1m, Mold Crown Court heard today.

Lee Ablitt, 51, from the Warrington area, was stopped driving on the M56 for being a disqualified driver. When police searched the vehicle they found multiple boxes of class C drugs.

Police enquires led to two storage containers in Rhyl, registered to Ablitt, where a significant quantity of steroids and performance enhancing drugs were discovered along with a large quantity of cash. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here

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Prosecutor Sion ap Mihangel said in one of those storage containers in Rhyl police found £483,968 in cash in a suitcase. Ablitt's DNA was on the suitcase.

Data recovered from Ablitt’s phone revealed that Christopher Thompson, 49, from Wigan, was also involved in the criminal enterprise, with Thompson sending lists of drugs to Ablitt that customers were requesting. A police drug expert valued the seized drugs as worth between £1.59m and £2.1m.

Ablitt said he had started bodybuilding as a teenager and began buying steroids in bulk which were purchased with others to spread the cost, which were then supplied on request.

Today Robert Kearney, for Ablitt, said it was a sad tale. His client had started out body building as a teenager but become addicted to steroids.

He may look physically strong but he has trouble with diabetes, and body shape and confidence issues. Keith Harrison, for Thompson, said he works hard with two jobs in the security industry and bitterly regrets getting involved in these offences.

The judge His Honour Rhys Rowlands said there had been "industrial" amounts of steroids. He told the men: "Steroids are a real risk to individuals' health.

"You were aware of that but in order to make money the two of you carried on this business." He jailed Ablitt, of Hoy Drive, Newton-le-Willows, for five years for conspiracy to supply a controlled Class C drug.

He jailed Thompson, of Scott Lane, Wigan, for 33 months for the same offence. Both men also admitted using, acquiring or possessing criminal property but there were no separate penalties for those offences.

Emmalyne Downing of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “It was clear from the evidence that both men had been involved in this criminal enterprise. Some may not think of these drugs as dangerous, but they are controlled substances which can be harmful.

“The CPS presented a strong case which ultimately resulted in guilty pleas, bringing the offenders to justice.” A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will be held in May.

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