A doctor prescribed drugs over the internet to "line his pockets" while the patients he never saw were drawn into "dependency and abuse", a medical tribunal heard yesterday.

Dr Julian Eden, one of the UK's leading online private medical consultants, prescribed "bucket loads" of diazepam and dihydrocodeine pills over the web to an Edinburgh mother-of-three without examining her, it was claimed.

Fiona Hutson was addicted to sleeping pills and so used Dr Eden, founder of online business e-med Private Medical Services, to get codeine-based sedatives.

Dr Eden, from Battersea in London, appeared before a fitness to practise tribunal of the General Medical Council (GMC) yesterday accused of a string of offences, including the inappropriate and irresponsible prescribing of drugs to patients against their best interests.

He admitted some charges, and denies others. The hearing is expected to last 12 days.

Dafydd Enoch, for the GMC, said Dr Eden's internet service replaced face-to-face consultations and exposed patients to danger.

He said: "In this case, you will hear that Dr Eden was consulted by highly vulnerable patients; the striking similarity is the complete lack of any appropriate questions and the lack of any face to face consultation. While his pockets were being lined, the patients were being drawn into dependency and abuse."

Patients paid an annual £20 joining fee and then £15 for each online consultation with the GP.

Mrs Hutson, who was addicted to sedatives and painkillers, said she spent a year getting "bucket loads" of diazepam and dihydrocodeine pills from Dr Eden over the web without being examined and told the GMC: "It was a doddle, to use a Scottish phrase. It was extremely easy."

Mr Enoch said "she went looking for an easy touch and she found it" in Dr Eden. At the height of her addiction, Mrs Hutson was taking 30 dihydrocodeine a day.

Dr Eden admits his prescribing of Mrs Hutson was inappropriate, irresponsible, and not in her best interests. The hearing continues.