Company and former director sentenced for selling deadly "fat burner"

A company and one of its former directors have been sentenced after a deadly "fat-burner" chemical was illegally sold for human consumption.

Carlisle Crown Court heard how a highly toxic substance called 2,4-dinitrophenol was shipped in tablet form by Enhanced Athlete Europe Limited to customers worldwide "so that people could consume it as a weight-loss drug".

It was packed and despatched from a secluded factory at Station Yard in Wigton.

When this was raided, in September 2017, 11kg of loose DNP powder - capable of producing 220,000 tablets - was found along with a mixing machine, large pill press and other equipment.

Also present was 25-year-old Shaun Thomas Corrigan - at that time the sole director of Enhanced Athlete Europe - whose hands were noted to be "stained yellow".

Investigators uncovered emails in which dosage discussions and feedback were exchanged. Some people raised "serious concerns" about the use of DNP as a fat-burner.

One warned Corrigan: "Last thing you want, bro, is some kid burning himself inside out and you end up on a manslaughter charge."

Although not represented in court, Enhanced Athlete Europe Limited went on trial and was convicted, unanimously, of placing an unsafe food stuff on the market for human consumption.

Corrigan had previously admitted, as an ex-director, that the company - which had registered addresses at Wigton and Gateshead - committed the offence.

During the company's trial, prosecutor Joseph Hart told jurors: "DNP, whilst it can cause rapid weight-loss if consumed, it's toxic to humans, causing serious harmful side effects and, in fact, fatalities."

Mr Hart said of the offending during today's sentencing hearing: "There was a clear, deliberate attempt to conceal the illegal nature of the activity."

Corrigan, of Pottersway, Gateshead, was described as "very remorseful" for his role. He "basically ran the company", the court heard, but was not a major shareholder.

A nine-month jail term was suspended for 12 months, and he must complete 180 hours unpaid work.

He was disqualified from acting as a company director for two years.

"I am sure that you knew there were dangers to this drug," Judge James Adkin told Corrigan.

"There was a high risk of an adverse effect on individuals by selling what was, in essence, a poison."

The company was fined £100,000 plus £47,161.55 costs.