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A Northern Ireland beautician has been fined £1,500 for the unlawful possession of unauthorised prescription medicines with the intent to supply.

Alana Dalton of Kenton Drive in Coleraine appeared in magistrates court on five charges for offences in breach of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.

In August 2024, Department of Health officials visited her home – from which she provided aesthetics services – where they uncovered and seized a number of unlawfully held prescription medicines, including 48 syringes of dermal fillers containing lidocaine, saline, adrenaline and hyaluronidase. An epi pen was also seized from the domestic property.

In addition to the £1,500 fine, Ms Dalton received a £15 offender levy.

Peter Moore, senior medicines enforcement officer with the Department of Health, commented: “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 alert to unusually cheap prices, treatments offered in domestic settings or practitioners who cannot provide proper credentials.”

Aaron McKendry, interim head at the Medicines Regulatory Group, added: “The Department is committed to taking all possible steps to combat this type of activity.

“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.”

Related: Lisburn beautician convicted for unlawful possession with intent to supply prescription medicines