A Bethesda woman has avoided jail after she injected two people with a banned cosmetic substance while claiming it as Botox.

Carol Edwards used Fraxin on two customers who had booked for treatments at her beauty salon in Menai Bridge.

The 38 year-old was fined and ordered to pay compenstation after she pladed guilty on two counts of fraud by false representation.

Anglesey Trading Standards said Edwards had claimed to be a trainee nurse, which turned out to be untrue.

Caernarfon Crown Court heard the two customers had booked and paid for Botox treatment at 5 Star Aesthetics after seeing an advert on social media.

They complained that the treatment they received wasn't having the desired effect and struggled to get a response from Edwards before eventually being offered additional sessions.

Trading Standards said it had received various complaints between April and October 2023 from customers regarding treatments and the business owner's failure to respond.

They found Edwards had not been using Botox as advertised, but an unlicensed inferior alternative product, called Fraxin, which is not authorised for use in the UK.

But because of the type of treatment and equipmnt involved, the complaints fell outside the remit of local environment health licensing because the non-surgical cosmetic procedures are currently unregulated.

When Trading Standards contacted Edwards, she admitted the substance she had used was Fraxin rather than Botox - but she had failed to acknowledge any problem with her actions.

She had also claimed to officers that she was in the final year of her qualification as a trainee nurse, which turned out to be false.

During sentencing on Wednesday, Judge Timothy Petts told the court that both customers would not have agreed to the treatment if they had known it was an unlicensed alternative "with unknown side effects".

He added that although the amount of monetary harm was "relatively low", the potential for harm was much higer and that "things could have gone badly wrong".

A pre-sentencing report had identified mental health difficulties resulting in poor judgement as opposed to cause harm, and that the compensation award was higher than just the cost of treatment to reflect the additional strain on the victims.

Edwards was ordered to pay a £500 and £1000 in compensation - £500 each for both customers. She must also undergo 15 days of rehabiltation and a 12-month community order.

Anglesey Trading Standards warned local residents to be careful when considering non-surgical cosmetic treatments.

Manager Emma Jones said: "Although they may initially seem lower risk than surgical alternatives, unregulated cosmetic treatments do not require qualifications, licensing or adherence to any codes of professional conduct."

"In Wales, the mandatory licensing for special procedures, only applies to acupuncture, body piercing, electrolysis and tattooing. As such all other non-surgical cosmetic procedures, including 'Botox' and dermal fillers, continue to be unregulated."

Anyone considering such treatment should undertake significant research and ensure they are aware of the risks. Medicinal products, including 'Botox', should only be prescribed following medical consultation with a qualified professional.

There is now a strict ban on remote prescribing, which requires all patients to have an in-person consultation before receiving treatment.

Cllr Nicola Roberts, who holds the public protection portfolio at Anglesey Council, added: "This was financial gain and unfair competitive advantage from substituting a premium medicine with a cheaper unlicensed alternative. Fortunately, the victims did not suffer adverse side effects."

"The deliberate misinformation given to customers, who thought they had received Botox, any could have been seriously hampered any emergency medical treatment. Thankfully, it was not needed."