A 29-year-old Ipswich man who sold and supplied counterfeit medicines online including fake Viagra and abortion pills has been spared jail.

Dmitrij Selkov, of Copperfield Road, on the Triangle Estate, was given a 12-month prison term - suspended for two years - when he appeared before Southwark Crown Court.

Selkov, formerly of Handford Road, was arrested in a raid in Ipswich which attracted national media coverage in January last year.

The swoop occurred after the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MRHA) launched an inquiry into potentially dangerous counterfeit drugs being sold through the internet.

The pills Selkov - a Russian national - sold were imported from former Soviet Union countries and India.

Among the medicines Selkov was found to have supplied were counterfeit versions of erectile dysfunction medication, such as Viagra.

He had also supplied Misoprostol - an abortifacient for use in legal terminations - which is required by law to be supplied through a UK registered facility, such as a hospital or clinic.

After Selkov’s sentencing Alastair Jeffrey, MHRA Head of Enforcement, said: “A number of the medicines supplied were counterfeit. As these products are not supplied through the legal supply chain, their quality and safety cannot be assured.

“Many have been found to contain too much or too little active ingredient. Some have none at all.

“At worst, they can contain dangerous adulterants which have potentially very serious consequences for patients.

“Mr Selkov committed crimes with scant regard for the health of his customers - his motivation was profit”.

The court ordered all the medicines to be destroyed.

There are strict legal controls in place on medicines in the UK; including requirements for their manufacture, distribution, retail sale and advertising.

Medicines are not ordinary consumer goods and have a potential to harm patients, as well as cure them.

Consequently, their supply to patients, particularly in relation to medicines which are “prescription only” and “pharmacy only supply”, is subject to some restrictions and supply without medical supervision can be dangerous.

Selkov pleaded guilty last month to an offence contrary to Section 9(1) of the Fraud Act 2006.

This entails participating in a fraudulent business carried on as a sole trader.

In addition to his suspended sentence Selkov was ordered to pay a £1,000 fine and costs of £1,500.