A preacher who sold £91 ‘divine plague protection kits’ as a cure for Covid-19 has lost his appeal against his conviction for fraud today.
Bishop Climate Wiseman, 47, offered a package, containing a small bottle of hyssop, cedarwood and olive oil along with a prayer card and piece of scarlet yarn.
The head of the Kingdom Church in Camberwell, south London, said he had a visitation from God and told jurors he had performed miracles.
Wiseman denied he was a conman and insisted he was a ‘man of God’, despite being convicted of fraud at Inner London Crown Court last December after telling members of his flock that the kits could ward off and cure infection.
Southwark Trading Standards officers were alerted to his scam on 24 March 2020 – the day after the country was plunged into lockdown.
Wiseman was sentenced to 12 months jail suspended for two years and ordered to complete 130 hours unpaid work.
He was also ordered to pay £60,072 in costs to Southwark Borough Council and given three months to pay.
Wiseman appealed against his conviction on the grounds the trial judge directed the jury inadequately on essential questions of knowledge and dishonesty.
Hyssop is mentioned in the Bible as a means of warding off plague, specifically leprosy, and has a history of use in remedies for nose, throat, and lung afflictions.
However, the only modern use for the aromatic garden herb is for the flavouring of foods and beverages due to its sweet scent and bitter taste.
He also claimed an error in his defence counsel’s closing speech should have led the judge to discharge the jury.
Wiseman also renewed his application for leave to appeal against the costs order.
But Lady Chief Justice Carr, sitting with Mr Justice Goose and Mr Justice Foxton, threw out his appeal at the High Court.
Hellbound and Down 