Two men were sentenced on 21 May 2008 at Lewes Crown Court for the illegal sale and supply of an unlicensed medicine used to treat male erectile dysfunction under the Medicines Act 1968. The sentencing followed an investigation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Colin Richard Hudson (52) of Hailsham, East Sussex was sentenced to eight months and two weeks imprisonment suspended for two years. Scott Hodgkiss (37) of Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, received 120 hours community service. They had both previously pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge under offences contrary to the Medicines Act 1968 concerning the illegal sale and supply of Kamagra on the Internet over a period of nearly seven months.

MHRA enquiries revealed that Mr Hodgkiss operated a website called www.kamagra100. In February 2006, a search by MHRA enforcement officers of Mr Hodgkiss' home address discovered a large quantity of Kamagra in tablet and jelly form with an estimated street value of £23,000. Further investigation pointed to Mr Hudson as being Mr Hodgkiss' supplier who was operating a website called www.kamagraman. A search of Mr Hudson's home address recovered documentation referring to Kamagra from his computer.

Mick Deats, Enforcement Group Manager at the MHRA said, "There is considerable risk to the public from obtaining medicines through unregulated websites. The websites operated by Mr Hodgkiss and Mr Hudson were offering an unlicensed medicine. A medicine bought in this way has no guarantee of safety, quality or effectiveness."

Notes

1. The MHRA is the government agency responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work, and are acceptably safe. No product is risk-free. Underpinning all our work lie robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits to patients and the public justify the risks. We keep watch over medicines and devices, and take any necessary action to protect the public promptly if there is a problem. We encourage everyone -the public and healthcare professionals as well as the industry - to tell us about any problems with a medicine or medical device, so that we can investigate and take any necessary action.

2. If an individual is convicted of offences under the Medicines Act 1968, they can be sentenced to a maximum of two years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Where appropriate the MHRA will use the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to determine whether or not benefits were accrued through criminal activity and will recoup illicit earnings if the individual is found guilty.

mhra