Fine and suspended prison sentence for Lisburn beautician convicted of possessing unauthorised medical products
A Lisburn beautician who was found guilty of having unauthorised medical products for sale has been fined and given a suspended prison sentence.
She appeared before Lisburn Magistrates Court on Thursday, August 20, 2026 after being found guilty of 11 charges of having unauthorised medicinal products for sale, possessing medicinal products with intent to sell, and possession of Class C drug gabapentin.
The facts of the case were not opened in court, however, the charges arose following a search of her home and treatment room by enforcement officers from the Department of Health in 2025.
Medicinal products found included Vitamin B12, Lipoprase, Biotine Bayer, Skinny Jab, and gabapentin.
The defendant, Nadine Poole (39), whose address was given as Doll House Beauty, Whitehill Lodge, Lisburn, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, however following a contested hearing she was found guilty by District Judge Rosie Watters.
Due to a medical condition, the defendant had previously failed to appear before the court for sentencing. The case was then rescheduled for August 20.
When the case was first called, a court officer stated that the defendant was having “a medical incident”. However, the defendant later appeared before the court for sentencing.
Defence told the court there were “relevant past convictions” but that the defendant maintains the medical products found at her property had been there from before the previous convictions.
She continued: “She has her own physical and mental health issues. The last two years haven’t been particularly easy for her.
"She has a medical condition that causes seizures, exacerbated by stress. She just wants to draw a line under this.”
Defence also told the court that the gabapentin had been given to the defendant by a friend with a note that read “I hope this helps”. "She didn’t ask for them or take them,” she added.
During sentencing, District Judge Rosie Watters told the defendant: “I am completely unimpressed with how you dealt with this. You should have just pleaded guilty and put your hands up a long time ago.”
Ms Watters stated that if the defendant is charged with similar offences in the future, the case should go to the Crown Court.
"I do think if there is anything else it should go to the Crown Court,” she said. “I don’t have sufficient sentencing power. Who knows what harm could have been done.”
Noting that she could only fine the defendant for most of the charges, Ms Watters imposed a fine of £300 on each of the 11 counts of having unauthorised medicinal products for sale, and one count possessing medicinal products with intent to sell.
On the charge of possession of a Class C drug, namely gabapentin, Ms Watters imposed a custodial sentence of three months, which she suspended for three years.
She also imposed an offender’s levy of £15 and issued an ordered for the destruction of the drugs and products seized during the case.
Ms Watters warned the defendant: “Stay well away from this type of offending. You will go to prison if there is any further offending of this type."
Speaking after the hearing, Peter Moore, senior medicines enforcement officer with the Department of Health, who directed the investigation, said: “The conviction sends a strong message that there are consequences if a person attempts to bypass the regulated system and its controls which are in place to ensure public safety and the integrity of the medicines supply chain.
“I would urge people to consider the implications of buying medicines from dubious or unregulated sources – there is no way of knowing what you are buying is what you think it is, and this can have serious consequences for your health.
"People should be suspicious of unusually cheap prices, treatments offered in domestic settings, or practitioners who cannot provide proper credentials.”
Aaron McKendry, interim head of Medicines Regulatory Group, added: “The Department is committed to taking all possible steps to combat the illegal promotion, supply or misuse of medicines and when appropriate, to alert the public about the dangers of using medicines outside of the regulated supply chain.
“It is vital that people take prescription only medicines after consultation with their GP, pharmacist or other healthcare professional who have access to patient health records and can consider the risks and benefits associated with every medicine.”