Robin James Taylor’s granted bail in Victorian Supreme Court after drug trafficking charges

A prominent Melbourne businessman who allegedly trafficked drugs through his anti-ageing and sports medicine clinic has been offered a lifeline by a mate.

Robin James Taylor fronted the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

A long time friend of a prominent Melbourne businessman offered up $100,000 and a job to his mate to secure bail after his anti-ageing clinic was raided during a steroid trafficking investigation.

Robin James Taylor, 54, began his bail application in the Supreme Court on Tuesday morning.

Taylor was arrested on March 28 after the Melbourne Sports Medicine and Anti-Ageing Science clinic he owned and operated was raided as part of a steroid trafficking probe.

A warehouse associated with Taylor and his home were raided alongside the Moonee Ponds clinic.

Police raided a health and anti-ageing clinic as part of a steroid trafficking investigation on March 28. Picture by Wayne Taylor

Detectives allegedly seized 7000 tablets, 6 litres of an unknown liquid, $950,000 in cash and millions of dollars in luxury cars believed to be the proceeds of crime.

Also allegedly seized was a box containing prescription papers printed with a NSW’s doctor’s signature who worked with the clinic in an online telehealth capacity.

The court heard the doctor told police the prescription papers were not his as he only issued e-scripts.

Police allegedly seized 7000 pills from the Moonee Ponds clinic. Picture by Wayne Taylor

A long time friend of Taylor, John Di Cesare, offered himself up as the bail guarantor during the bail application.

Mr Di Cesare said he would front $100,000 of his own money to post Taylor’s bail.

He said he was “not concerned” Taylor would skip out on court because he “knows his character.”

Mr Di Cesare also offered up a job as a OHS liaison at his commercial painting company for Taylor if he was granted bail.

Justice Amanda Claire Fox said it was “difficult” for her to assess the seriousness of the offending given the brief of evidence has not been served yet.

She also noted six of the nine trafficking charges are “fatally flawed” and said some of the prosecution evidence is “weak.”

Justice Fox granted Taylor’s bail application on Wednesday morning, noting he has a family home to return to and good support from Mr Di Cesare.

Taylor will have to surrender his passport and report twice weekly to his local police station.