Gemma Brown / Gray – Bishop Auckland, County Durham
📍 Location
Bishop Auckland / Blackhall, County Durham
🧾 Allegations & Incident Summary
- Operating under the names Gemma Brown / Gray and Bellissimo Aesthetics
- Accused of administering unlicensed and potentially deadly Toxpia injections (fake Botox)
- Over 28 patients affected in the North East with symptoms consistent with botulism
- Clients suffered drooping eyes, slurred speech, double vision, and some required ICU treatment
- Linked to at least two confirmed hospitalisations: Kaylie Bailey (ICU, Peterlee) and Paula Harrison (hospitalised, Blackhall)
- Allegedly sold illegal products to other aesthetic practitioners
⚖️ Legal and Safety Concerns
- Toxpia is an illegal product not authorised in the UK by the MHRA
- Gemma Gray allegedly told clients it was a “new Botox trial” product
- Clients report she was unprepared, dismissive, and performed rushed procedures
- She is reported to have declined public comment when approached by the BBC
💬 Victim Statements
Kaylie Bailey: “I remember lying there thinking, ‘I’m dying here, and I don’t want to.’ I nearly died because of it.”
Paula Harrison: “She’s playing with people’s lives. Luckily, I’m alright, but I could have been dead.”
📝 Notes
- Gemma Brown/Gray rents a room independently at a salon in Blackhall. Other professionals (e.g. holistic therapists) are not associated with her practice.
- This case is part of a larger botulism investigation in the North East of England being monitored by the UK Health Security Agency.
- Bellissimo Aesthetics (her brand) is not affiliated with other similarly named businesses.
This post is based on verified media reports (BBC), public health investigations, and testimony from affected clients. The matter is under review by regulatory authorities.