A DOCTOR who illegally imported drugs over the internet has avoided jail.

Michael Condon, aged 40, was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court for importing three types of drugs — the synthetic stimulant Alpha PHP, the illegal Class B drug Methylone powder and the psychoactive substance Flurohenmetrazine (FPM).

Defence barrister David Wood said the purchase of drugs, totalling 26 grams, was a "relapse" against a backdrop of "personal trauma" and working in a "ferociously draining" environment.

Juliet Berry, prosecuting, said: "The crown accepts that whilst the drugs were imported on a number of occasions, from the quantities and other evidence, they were for the defendant's own consumption.

"The aggravating feature is the fact that it was three different types of drugs over a period of time, the fact that the defendant has a previous conviction and the defendant's position as a doctor."

The court heard that, between October 2016 and March 2017, Condon imported three types of drugs.

Condon of Blackburn Road, Sharples, pleaded guilty in March this year to the three offences.

The prosecution told the court that on December 27, 2016, UK border control intercepted a parcel containing the Class B drugs Methylone, also known as 'MDMC' or 'M1', and Alpha PHP. It was addressed to Condon from a company in Amsterdam.

Then, on March 5, 2017, a representative from the UK Border Agency seized a package containing FPM.

Later that month, police officers executed a warrant of Condon's home address and found invoices on his computer, and communication with a Dutch firm in relation to obtaining the drugs.

Bank statements also showed that payments of "a low amount" — no more than £100 — had been made to those companies.

In 2005, Condon was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, for obtaining drugs from a pharmacy which he said were for patients, when in fact they were for his own use.

Mr Wood, defending, said: "Condon suffered personal trauma in 1999 that led to a significant problem with Class A drugs as a copying mechanism.

"All credit to him, he overcame that addiction, not only that but he went on to complete medical studies. He has become a credit to his profession and a valued member of the NHS.

"He is working towards a position as a consultant in A&E. It can be ferociously draining.

"He has experienced the death of two children that came under his care.

"He had failed to deal with that properly and has allowed himself to relapse by taking inappropriate substances.

"Although he has let himself and his profession down, he has not put anyone at risk."

Condon breathed a sigh of relief in the dock on Friday, May 4, as Judge Elliot Knopf told him he would not be sending him to prison.

Judge Knopf, sentencing, said: "There is recommendation to show that there have been other occasions when drugs other than those detected by customs were sent to you but which have not been discovered.

"Nevertheless it is accepted by the prosecution that the drugs you were ordering were for your own use, and the quantities were indicative of that, as were the payments made to the Dutch firm.

"You are a medical practitioner who is engaged in a stressful area of medical practice. One can readily recognise the effect that working in that environment can have.

"That does not, of course, amount to an excuse for being involved in the purchase of the drugs and in arranging for those drugs to be posted through to you for your use.

"But it is the context of using drugs as a coping mechanism.

"I accept that you feel remorse for what you have done.

"It certainly seems that the custody threshold has not been crossed.

"In my view, nothing will be served by imposing a suspended sentence of imprisonment."

Condon was handed a community order of 12 months with a condition to serve 200 hours of unpaid work.

On February 14 this year, an Interim Orders Tribunal (IOT) at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) placed conditions on Condon's registration as a doctor.

The eight conditions include informing the General Medical Council (GMC) of any post he takes up, getting approval from the GMC before starting work in a non-NHS post or setting, and he must not work in any locum post or fixed term contract of less than four weeks duration.

The General Medical Council said it will continue to investigate.