{{Short description|British businessman and politician}} {{distinguish|text=the Liberal Democrat councillor on Southwark Borough Council}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = David Noakes | birth_date = March 1953 | occupation = Computer consultant, businessman and politician | known_for = Founding Immuno Biotech Ltd. to promote the controversial use of GcMAF | criminal_charges = Money laundering, manufacturing, supplying and selling an unlicensed medicine | criminal_penalty = 15 months imprisonment }} '''David Noakes''' (born March 1953)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/bPLfBYgff6O2q9jJJnnJtklgRng/appointments|title=David Noakes|work=Companies House}}</ref> is a British computer consultant,<ref name=contender/> businessman and politician, who founded Immuno Biotech Ltd. to promote the unproven therapy GcMAF<ref name="Anticancer Fund">{{cite web | url = https://www.anticancerfund.org/en/gcmaf-story-exploitation-and-lies | title = GcMAF: a story of exploitation and lies| date = 8 December 2017| publisher = Anticancer Fund | accessdate=2018-07-28}}</ref> and came last in the 2006 UKIP leadership election. He pleaded guilty to "money laundering and manufacturing, supplying and selling an unlicensed medicine" and was sentenced in November 2018 to 15 months' imprisonment.<ref name="BBC2018"/>
==Business== Noakes was a computer consultant for a decade.<ref name=contender/> In 2004, he designed an alphabetical keyboard layout.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/7282019.New_computer_keyboard_is_simple_as_ABC/|title=New computer keyboard is simple as ABC|date=15 April 2004|work=Gazette and Herald}}</ref> He says he has worked for several Cornish companies, including Holman Brothers, Mount Wellington Tin Mine, and Phillips Frith, and in several countries,<ref name=campaigns/> including in Brussels and for JPMorgan Chase Bank in New York.<ref name=eutruth>{{cite web|url=http://eutruth.org.uk/david-noakes.html|title=David Noakes|work=EU Truth|access-date=27 January 2018|archive-date=18 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718221006/http://eutruth.org.uk/david-noakes.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Immuno Biotech=== Noakes is CEO and owner of Immuno Biotech Ltd. (trade name First Immune), a Guernsey company that promotes the use of the protein GcMAF, a blood product, as a cure for cancer, autism, HIV, multiple sclerosis, and other diseases,<ref name=trial/><ref name=wonder/> claiming to treat 10,000 patients worldwide<ref name=warned/> with income of £1 million per month.<ref name=million>{{cite news|url=https://guernseypress.com/news/2015/03/04/gcmaf-was-making-a-million-a-month/|title=GcMaf was making a million a month|date=4 March 2015|work=Guernsey Press}}</ref> Noakes began promoting GcMAF in 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsdecode.wordpress.com/2010/03/03/the-gc-maf-cancer-cure-patients-wanted/|title=The Gc MAF cancer cure|work=News Decode|last=Noakes|first=David|date=3 March 2010}}</ref> and the company had laboratories in Oxford in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/6/prweb9651313.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719233150/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/6/prweb9651313.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 July 2012|title=GcMAF – The most important discovery in autism treatment?|date=29 June 2012|work=PR Web}}</ref> Noakes has been on the board of governors of the National Health Federation (a lobbying group promoting alternative medicine<ref>{{cite book| last = Schneirov | first = Matthew David |author2=Jonathan David Geczik | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ZIdUEFyM9T0C | title = A Diagnosis for Our Times: Alternative Health, from Lifeworld to Politics | location = Albany, New York | publisher = SUNY Press | year = 2003 | pages = 129| isbn = 9780791457313 }}</ref> ) since April 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenhf.com/about-nhf/our-team?view=category&id=109|title=Board of Governors|work=National Health Federation}}</ref> and was on the long list for Guernsey Press Ambassador of the Year 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://guernseypress.com/news/2014/01/20/flying-the-flag-for-us-all/|title=Flying the flag for us all|date=20 January 2014|work=Guernsey Press}}</ref> Noakes advised cancer patients to not take chemotherapy<ref name=unlicensed/> and promoted the treatment to the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce despite criticism from Cancer Research UK;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://guernseypress.com/news/2013/01/24/cancer-cure-claim-sparks-heated-debate-at-seminar/|title=Cancer cure claim sparks heated debate at seminar|date=24 January 2013|work=Guernsey Press}}</ref> doctors on Guernsey all declined an invite to a meeting about GcMAF.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://guernseypress.com/news/2014/05/05/lobbying-to-intensify-to-allow-banned-cancer-treatment/|title=Lobbying to intensify to allow banned cancer treatment|date=5 May 2014|work=Guernsey Press}}</ref>
In July 2014, NatWest bank closed the company's accounts.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-28133042 |title=Natwest shuts cancer company account |work=BBC News Guernsey |publisher=BBC |date=3 July 2014 |last=Weir |first=Mike}}</ref> In 2015, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) took over 10,000 vials of GcMAF during an inspection of the company's unlicensed Milton, Cambridgeshire site and shut down production,<ref name=unlicensed>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-34326801|title=Unlicensed blood drug GcMAF still for sale|first=Ruth|last=Evans|work=5 live Investigates|publisher=BBC|date=27 September 2015}}</ref> after it found that the plasma the GcMAF was derived from was not for human use, and that the production site did not meet good manufacturing practice standards.<ref name=warned>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-31114741|title=Guernsey residents warned free cancer drug 'a risk to health'|work=BBC News Guernsey|publisher=BBC|date=3 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://guernseypress.com/news/2015/02/05/gcmaf-users-not-given-protection-they-deserve/|title=GcMaf users 'not given protection they deserve'|work=Guernsey Press|date=5 February 2015}}</ref> Noakes' former personal assistant, who worked for him in 2012, said that sometimes Noakes' own blood was used.<ref name=million/> The company had been supplying GcMAF to around 100 Guernsey residents free of charge until imports were prohibited by the Guernsey Border Agency in February 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-31920451|title=GcMAF cancer drug imports 'could resume' in Guernsey|work=BBC News Guernsey|publisher=BBC|date=17 March 2015}}</ref><ref name=warned/> Noakes' company began supplying an alternative called Goleic in place of GcMAF.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://guernseypress.com/news/2015/02/25/gcmaf-replacement-is-licensed-in-germany-says-ceo/|title=GcMaf replacement is licensed in Germany, says CEO|date=25 February 2015|work=Guernsey Press}}</ref> Noakes claimed in March 2015 that the UK authorities were harassing him and his family,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://guernseypress.com/news/2015/03/07/theyre-out-to-destroy-us-claims-gcmaf-boss/|title='They're out to destroy us' claims GcMaf boss|date=7 March 2015|work=Guernsey Press}}</ref> then was interviewed by the BBC's ''The One Show'' in May 2015, but stormed out and threatened to smash the camera.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://guernseypress.com/news/2015/05/07/gcmaf-creator-in-one-show-interview-bust-up/|title=GcMaf creator in One Show interview bust-up|date=7 May 2015|work=The Guernsey Press}}</ref> A complaint to the BBC Trust about the interview was dismissed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/appeals/esc_bulletins/2015/oct.pdf#page=44|title=The One Show, BBC One, 6 May 2015|work=Editorial Standards Findings|publisher=BBC Trust|date=December 2015}}</ref> Later that summer, the Swiss regulator Swissmedic closed the First Immune clinic in Bussigny,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://guernseypress.com/news/2015/07/09/criminal-investigation-into-swiss-gcmaf-clinic/|title=Criminal investigation into Swiss GcMaf clinic|date=9 July 2015|work=Guernsey Press}}</ref> after five deaths of patients since it opened in October 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.24heures.ch/vaud-regions/lausanne-region/Personne-n-est-mort-dans-la-clinique-de-Bussigny/story/15952423|work=24 heures|language=French|date=20 August 2015|first=Emmanuel|last=Borloz|title=Suspecté de la mort de cinq patients, le patron répond}}</ref> Noakes worked with American autism doctor Jeff Bradstreet until the latter committed suicide in June 2015, following a federal government raid of his office in connection to his work on GcMAF. Noakes also worked with scientist Marco Ruggiero until Noakes' Swiss clinic was closed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://oggiscienza.it/2017/04/20/panacea-marco-ruggiero-vista-europol/|title=La panacea di Marco Ruggiero, vista da Europol|work=Oggiscienza|date=20 April 2017|first=Sylvie|last=Coyaud|language=Italian}}</ref>
In November 2015, Noakes was found guilty by an employment tribunal of sex discrimination against his former personal assistant at Immuno Biotech, Lucia Pagliarone, and was made to pay £10,500. Pagliarone claimed she was asked to give injections as part of her role, despite not having medical training.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11999872/Immuno-Biotech-drugs-boss-David-Noake-guilty-of-sexism.html|title=Drugs boss who said he 'only employs beautiful women' guilty of sexism|work=Telegraph|date=17 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.in-pharmatechnologist.com/Article/2015/11/18/CEO-who-only-employs-beautiful-women-guilty-of-sex-discrimination|title=CEO who 'only employs beautiful women' guilty of sex discrimination|date=18 November 2015|first=Fiona|last=Barry|work=In Pharma Technologist}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=99001&p=0|title=Case No: ED0004/15|work=Employment & Discrimination Tribunal|publisher=States of Guernsey|date=10 November 2015}}</ref>
Despite a police search of the Immuno Biotech office and a home in January 2016,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://guernseypress.com/news/2016/06/01/items-not-on-warrant-taken-during-raids-on-gcmaf-firm/|title=Items not on warrant taken during raids on GcMaf firm|date=1 June 2016|work=Guernsey Press}}</ref> Noakes had predicted in November 2016 that the MHRA investigation would come to nothing and he would "take down" the regulator;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://guernseypress.com/news/2016/11/05/gcmaf-creator-ill-bring-down-medicine-regulator/|title=GcMaf creator: 'I'll bring down medicine regulator'|date=5 November 2016|work=Guernsey Press}}</ref> however, Guernsey police again raided the Immuno Biotech office in Lower Pollet in February 2017<ref>{{cite news|url=https://guernseypress.com/news/2017/02/23/law-enforcement-raid-offices-of-gcmaf-firm/|title=Law Enforcement raid offices of GcMaf firm|work=Guernsey Press|date=23 February 2017}}</ref> and arrested a man and a woman, which Noakes said was a "smear campaign".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://guernseypress.com/news/2017/02/24/immuno-biotech-offices-raid-all-part-of-smear-campaign/|title=Immuno Biotech offices raid 'all part of smear campaign'|date=24 February 2017|work=Guernsey Press}}</ref> French gendarmes also raided three locations in Normandy in February 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lejdd.fr/International/Europe/Un-chef-du-Ukip-vise-par-une-enquete-en-France-853937|title=Un chef du Ukip visé par une enquête en France|date=12 March 2017|work=theJDD.fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824151233/https://www.lejdd.fr/International/Europe/Un-chef-du-Ukip-vise-par-une-enquete-en-France-853937 |archive-date=24 August 2021 |language=French}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2017/02/28/01016-20170228ARTFIG00121-un-reseau-de-laboratoires-clandestins-demantele-en-normandie.php|title=Un réseau de laboratoires clandestins démantelé en Normandie|first=Louis|last=Germain|date=28 February 2017|work=Le Figaro|language=French}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2017/02/25/97001-20170225FILWWW00181-trafic-de-medicaments-deux-britanniques-mis-en-examen.php|title=Trafic de médicaments: deux Britanniques mis en examen|date=25 February 2015|work=lefigaro.fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412183121/https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2017/02/25/97001-20170225FILWWW00181-trafic-de-medicaments-deux-britanniques-mis-en-examen.php |archive-date=12 April 2021 |language=French}}</ref> Noakes also ran a company, Macro Innovations, that illegally manufactured GcMAF for patient use at a laboratory in Cambridgeshire.<ref name=cps/> Noakes was charged with money laundering, and conspiracy to manufacture a medicinal product without a licence, by the Crown Prosecution Service's Specialist Fraud Division in July 2017. He stood trial at Southwark Crown Court in November 2018, along with Brian Hall, Emma Ward and his former wife Loraine Noakes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.itv.com/news/channel/2017-07-26/guernsey-wonder-drug-producer-charged-by-uk-fraud-division/|title=Guernsey 'wonder drug' producer charged by UK Fraud Division|date=26 July 2017|work=ITV News}}</ref><ref name=trial>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-jersey-41782179?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=59f9d949e4b0c7acd6fa79fa%26David%20Noakes%20facing%20drug%20and%20money%20laundering%20charges%26&ns_fee=0#post_59f9d949e4b0c7acd6fa79fa|title=Creator of drug made from human blood to stand trial|work=BBC Local Live: Channel Islands|last=Byrne|first=Rob|date=1 November 2017}}</ref><ref name=wonder>{{cite news|url=http://www.itv.com/news/channel/2017-11-01/wonder-drug-creator-to-stand-trial/|title='Wonder drug' creator to stand trial|date=1 November 2017|work=ITV News}}</ref> Two of his Guernsey staff appeared in court in January 2018, in connection with the inquiry into Noakes' suspected criminal conduct.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://gsy.bailiwickexpress.com/gsy/news/immune-biotech-staff-appear-court-linked-gcmaf-profits/|title=Immuno Biotech staff appear in court linked with GcMaf profits|work=Bailiwick Express|date=16 January 2018}}</ref>
Noakes pleaded guilty in UK to "money laundering and manufacturing, supplying and selling an unlicensed medicine" and was sentenced in November 2018 to 15 months' imprisonment.<ref name="BBC2018">{{citation |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-46359949 |title=Cancer 'cure' boss David Noakes jailed for 15 months |date=27 November 2018 |last=BBC |work=BBC News }}</ref> He failed to report to police in December 2019 while on bail and was arrested in May 2020 in Truro. In June 2020, a confiscation order of £1,349,400.48 was made at Southwark Crown Court against Noakes and his company.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-52947719|title=Guernsey 'cancer cure' conman to see assets seized|date=June 8, 2020|work=BBC News}}</ref>
In April 2021 Noakes pleaded guilty in France to manufacturing and selling fake medicinal products and cosmetics by Internet and sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment.<ref name =Notretemps>{{cite news |url=https://www.notretemps.com/high-tech/actualites/cinq-britanniques-condamnes-pour-la-afp-202104,i241976 |title=Cinq Britanniques condamnés pour la vente d'un médicament "miracle" sur internet |publisher=Notretemps |language=fr |date=15 April 2021 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |access-date=19 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417083942/https://www.notretemps.com/high-tech/actualites/cinq-britanniques-condamnes-pour-la-afp-202104,i241976 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Politics== Noakes joined UKIP in 2003,<ref name=cash/> and was its parliamentary candidate in Truro and St Austell in 2005, gaining 5.3% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/586.stm|title=Result: Truro & St Austell|date=6 May 2005|work=BBC News}}</ref> Noakes came last of the four candidates in the 2006 UKIP leadership election, with 851 votes. During the election campaign he called the EU a "police state" and advocated UKIP forming a shadow cabinet;<ref name=contender>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5214022.stm|title=UKIP contender: David Noakes|date=27 July 2006|work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/ukip-leadership-rivals-in-profile-1-76648|title=UKIP leadership rivals in profile |work=East Anglian Daily Times|date=14 August 2006|last=Dines|first=Graham}}</ref> Nigel Farage won with 3,329 votes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/sep/13/otherparties.politics|title=Nigel Farage wins Ukip leadership contest|last=Branigan|first=Tanya|date=13 September 2006|work=The Guardian}}</ref> Noakes left UKIP in February 2007, writing in a letter that the leadership had betrayed the membership; Mark Croucher said Noakes was "a swivel-eyed loon whose insane conspiracy theories make the rest of us look as mad as a box of frogs".<ref name=cash>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1543788/Ukip-spent-cash-meant-for-MEPs.html|title=Ukip 'spent cash meant for MEPs'|work=Telegraph|date=25 February 2007|last1=Watts|first1=Robert|last2=Alderson|first2=Andrew}}</ref>
Noakes was an independent town councillor for Penwerris ward on Falmouth Town Council and a member of the planning committee from May 2007 until January 2010, when he resigned due to "work commitments".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.falmouthtowncouncil.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222074204/http://www.falmouthtowncouncil.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=10|url-status=dead|title=Falmouth Town Council|archive-date=22 December 2008|access-date=4 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.falmouthtowncouncil.co.uk/0misc/annual_report_2009_2010.pdf|work=Falmouth Town Council|title=Annual Report 2009/10|date=2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/cornwall_news/1384267.Kicked_out_/|title=Kicked-out!|first=Gavin|last=Harlow|date=9 May 2007|work=The Falmouth Packet}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/fpfalmouth/8195759.New_Falmouth_town_councillor/|title=New Falmouth town councillor|first=James|last=Toseland|date=2 June 2010|work=The Falmouth Packet}}</ref> He was fourth on the list for the United Kingdom First Party in the East Midlands region for the 2009 European Parliament elections;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8038897.stm|title=European election candidates: East Midlands|date=2 June 2009|work=BBC News}}</ref> UK First received 1.7% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/east-midlands-european/|title=East Midlands Euros|date=2010|work=UK Polling Report}}</ref> He stood in the December 2015 Guernsey by-election in Saint Peter Port North<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-34708659|title=Three candidates in Guernsey by-election|date=3 November 2015|work=BBC Guernsey}}</ref> on a platform of increased democracy in Guernsey and introducing a constitution,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://guernseypress.com/news/2015/12/01/st-peter-port-north-by-election-candidates-manifestos/|title=St Peter Port North by-election candidates' manifestos|date=1 December 2015|work=Guernsey Press}}</ref> gaining 109 votes (12.3%).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-34975191|title=Charles Parkinson elected to Guernsey States in landslide|work=BBC News Guernsey|publisher=BBC|date=2 December 2015}}</ref>
Noakes runs the website EUTruth.org,<ref name=contender/> and since 2007 has published the free monthly newspaper ''Westminster News'' in which he promoted a conspiracy theory that Zionists and the German company Siemens control the BBC. He has also promoted conspiracy theories about the Illuminati.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cst.org.uk/news/blog/2014/04/01/beware-the-ides-of-march-malaysian-airlines-the-ukrainian-revolution-bbc-washington|title=Beware the Ides of March: Malaysian Airlines, the Ukrainian Revolution, BBC, Washington|work=Community Security Trust|date=1 April 2014}}</ref>
==Personal life== Noakes was born in London,<ref name=eutruth/> went to Truro School<ref name=campaigns>{{cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=86707|title=Noakes, David|work=Our Campaigns}}</ref> and has lived in Port Pendennis, Falmouth, Cornwall,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/7169085.Election_candidates_set_out_on_campaign_trail/|title=Election candidates set out on campaign trail|date=14 April 2005|work=Somerset County Gazette}}</ref> Guernsey, and Waldershare in Kent, where he was living before being jailed in 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://guernseypress.com/news/2019/12/21/gcmaf-boss-on-the-run-as-france-seeks-arrest/|title=GcMAF boss on the run as France seeks arrest|date=December 21, 2019|work=Guernsey Press}}</ref>
He was married in 1989<ref name=eutruth/> to Loraine, with whom he has a son and a daughter.<ref name=contender/><ref name=trial/> The two separated in 2007,<ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-11-20|title=Cancer 'cure' distributed in household flasks|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-guernsey-46269308|access-date=2021-02-17}}</ref> but did not divorce until 2018.<ref name="cps">{{cite news|date=November 27, 2018|title=Men jailed for selling unlicensed medicines to sick patients|work=CPS|url=https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/men-jailed-selling-unlicensed-medicines-sick-patients|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804202835/https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/men-jailed-selling-unlicensed-medicines-sick-patients|archive-date=2020-08-04}}</ref> Noakes sailed a yacht called ''Moonlight'' out of Falmouth between 2005 and 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://classicyachtinfo.com/yachts/rita-3/|title=Yacht: Rita|work=Classic Yacht Info}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/1501206.World_title_for_Rebecca/|title=World title for Rebecca|work=The Falmouth Packet|date=27 June 2007|last=Medlyn|first=Ron}}</ref> and holds a pilot's licence.<ref name=eutruth/>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Noakes, David}} Category:Living people Category:1953 births Category:UK Independence Party people Category:People from Truro Category:Chief executives in the pharmaceutical industry Category:English chief executives Category:Businesspeople from London Category:Guernsey people Category:Businesspeople in the computer industry Category:English male criminals Category:English people convicted of money laundering Category:British politicians convicted of crimes Category:People convicted for health fraud Category:Medical controversies in the United Kingdom Category:British Eurosceptics