EXCLUSIVE: Beauty clinic in TOWIE mecca Brentwood illegally prescribed weight loss pills for nearly

WOWIE: The slimming clinic closed after the prosecution was launched (Classytrade)

A SLIMMING and beauty clinic run from the heart of TOWIE Essex illegally prescribed weight loss medication for nearly two years, it has emerged.

The Saint James Slimming and Beauty Clinic was run by Russell Eglinton, 76, in Ongar Road, Brentwood, the town made famous by the glitzy ITV reality TV show The Only Way is Essex, often nicknamed TOWIE.

UNREGULATED: Grab from the clinic's former website (Classytrade)

His firm Classytrade Limited, which ran the unregulated salon, pleaded guilty at Basildon Magistrates' Court to running slimming services without being registered to do so with the Care Quality Commission.

The charge stated: "Eglinton, trading as Classytrade Limited, carried on a regulated activity, namely services in slimming from The Saint James Slimming and Beauty Clinic without being registered to do so.

"Classytrade Limited provided services in a slimming clinic by providing advice and treatment to service users, including the prescriptions of medication for weight loss. It is alleged that the offence was committed by you, or committed with your consent or

CLOSED: The clinic was in an area of Brentwood with fashion boutiques and other beauty stores

GUILTY: The clinic offered access to a doctor with out being registered (Classytrade)

connivance in your capacity as a director of Classytrade Limited which is an offence contrary to regulation 10 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008."

Classytrade Limited, which he ran with Jacqueline Eglinton, 68, is currently being dissolved at Companies House and the clinic has closed.

Its former website said: "If you are concerned about weight loss our doctor is available for a private consultation on Wednesdays by appointment.

"Appetite suppressants are supplied as an aid to dieting and your progress is monitored to ensure maximum safety.

"we can claim a very high success rate for this method of weight control."

Sentencing is due to take place at the same court later this year.