Key Points
- Marianne Nicholls, also known as Maryan Lesley Persaud, Jacqueline McSherry, or Vanessa Campbell, posed as a well-spoken shaman in Hampstead, north London, claiming to heal illnesses like cancer through spiritual rituals involving cash sacrifices sent to “Papa Freddie” in Suriname, South America.
- Victims included osteopath Keith Bender, whose life imploded due to his wife Celia Gregory’s alcoholism; Bender sent £20,000 after Nicholls warned of cancer, funded by widow Sylvia Eaves’ £25,000 cheque.
- Nicholls isolated victims, dictated diets, cut family ties, and extracted millions; other victims included an Australian couple (£10,000 for suicidal friend), Ruth (£169,000 for eye problems), and Geoff (£200,000 job fear).
- A 2014 trial identified Juliette D’Souza as the fraudster, jailed for 10 years at Blackfriars Crown Court for 23 counts of fraud and deception from 1998-2010, conning 11 victims out of £1m for luxury items.
- Judge Ian Karsten QC described it as the worst confidence fraud case, with victims ruined financially and psychologically through threats of “terrifying” consequences.
- New BBC Two documentary The Million Pound Shaman Scam (two-part series aired around January 2026) exposes the story, drawing parallels to the Profumo Affair via osteopath Stephen Ward.
- Nicholls claimed elite connections, like curing John Cleese’s daughter and knowing Princess Diana; money was supposedly hung on a sacred Amazon tree and returned unopened.
- Victims faced coercion, including orders for abortions and complete dependency by severing family links.
In the affluent suburb of Hampstead, north London, a self-styled shaman known as Marianne Nicholls defrauded wealthy residents of millions through fake healing rituals, as detailed in a new BBC Two documentary The Million Pound Shaman Scam. As reported by Etan Smallman of The Telegraph, Nicholls, who used multiple aliases including Maryan Lesley Persaud, Jacqueline McSherry, and Vanessa Campbell, preyed on vulnerable elites by promising cures for serious illnesses via cash sent to “Papa Freddie” in Suriname. She was convicted in 2014 as Juliette D’Souza and sentenced to 10 years in prison for conning 11 victims out of over £1 million between 1998 and 2010, according to BBC News reporting.
Nicholls infiltrated Hampstead’s upper-crust circles with a polished image of Gucci handbags and BMW convertibles, falsely claiming to be the daughter of high court judges. The scam centred on “sacrifices” of cash envelopes posted to indigenous healers in the South American jungle, purportedly hung on a sacred tree to restore spirits before being returned unopened. BBC News detailed how D’Souza convinced victims the money would cure terminal illnesses, infertility, and other woes through rituals by two shamans in the Amazon rainforest.
Who Was the Fake Shaman Behind the Hampstead Con?
Marianne Nicholls presented herself as a well-groomed, well-spoken healer in leafy Hampstead, targeting those down on their luck. As per Etan Smallman in The Telegraph, she revealed her “shaman” identity after gaining trust, claiming abilities to detect dark spirits, predict cancer, and save lives via Suriname’s healing waters. Victims rarely travelled; an envelope of cash sufficed as proof of commitment to the spirits.
The BBC Two series The Million Pound Shaman Scam reveals her multiple identities, linking to Juliette D’Souza, convicted at Blackfriars Crown Court. Sky News reported D’Souza, aged 59 from Hampstead, boasted of healing John Cleese’s daughter of cancer and knowing Princess Diana. Instead of rituals, funds bought designer handbags, luxury holidays, and antique furniture, per court details in BBC News.
Judge Ian Karsten QC stated, as quoted in BBC News, “It is the worst case of confidence fraud I have ever had to deal with, or indeed that I have ever heard of,” highlighting her greed in wrecking victims’ lives. Investigating officers Detective Constable Fiona Graham and Detective Constable Linda Kernot remarked in Islington Tribune,
“We are pleased with today’s sentence; it reflects the serious nature of her actions and the fact that she has shown no remorse. We are relieved that her evil schemes have been stopped as we consider Juliette D’Souza equally as dangerous as a violent offender”.
How Did Marianne Nicholls Target Her First Major Victim?
Osteopath Keith Bender became a key entry point in 1994, as his marriage to actress Celia Gregory crumbled amid her alcoholism. Etan Smallman of The Telegraph reports Nicholls entered as a patient, offering a listening ear and money—borrowed from another dupe, Matthew Robinson, scion of an electronics empire—to pay Bender’s mortgage after he left home post-separation.
Bender recalls in the BBC programme, as cited by Smallman,
“Marianne said to me, ‘You’ve got a bit of a problem.’ ‘Papa Freddie sees that you’re going to end up with cancer. I was s–t-scared.”
Nicholls proposed a £20,000 sacrifice to show commitment. Penniless, Bender approached elderly widow and retired opera singer Sylvia Eaves, who wrote a £25,000 cheque.
Keith Bender stated in the documentary, per The Telegraph, “I was very, very happy because I felt at least then I had started my healing, in a major way”. He distributed her business cards, introducing her to his network.
What Tactics Did the Shaman Use to Control Victims?
Nicholls exerted cult-like coercive control, isolating victims and dictating lives. Bender describes in The Telegraph a phone call from Nicholls while at a pub: “I’ve just had a call from Papa Freddie. He’s seen you. You do not go to anywhere where there is negativity!” He felt “under a form of spiritual surveillance, all the time. I mean it: don’t f— around with a shaman”.
She controlled his diet, severed ties with children and parents. The scam echoed the 1960s Profumo Affair, with osteopath Stephen Ward linking elites; Bender played a similar role. Victims included an Australian couple paying £10,000 for a suicidal friend; Ruth surrendered £169,000 for eye issues; Geoff £200,000 fearing job loss.
BBC News notes D’Souza “remorselessly extracted” over £200,000 from an elderly woman, leaving one man “as poor as a church mouse”. Judge Karsten said she cast a “spell,” using threats of “terrifying” consequences, making victims dependent by warning against family and friends.
Who Were the Key Victims in the Hampstead Shaman Fraud?
Beyond Bender and Eaves, the net widened via his introductions. The Telegraph lists Bender reeling off:
“An Australian couple told me, ‘Oh we’ve got a friend who’s suicidal, we don’t know what to do with her.’ They agreed to pay a £10,000 sacrifice. Ruth [another friend] had problems with her eyes, she paid something like £169,000. Geoff [also an acquaintance] was very afraid of losing his job; he paid £200,000”.
The 2014 conviction involved 11 victims over 12 years, per BBC News. Sky News echoes the financial ruin and psychological hold. The BBC documentary highlights isolation tactics, including ordering abortions, draining millions from Hampstead’s elite.
What Happened in the Court Case and Sentencing?
D’Souza faced 23 counts at Blackfriars Crown Court, convicted Thursday before 29 May 2014 sentencing. Judge Karsten jailed her for 10 years, stating she wrecked lives out of pure greed. He noted, per Islington Tribune, victims “did exactly what you required them to do. They were terrified… you subjected a number of your victims to your will because they lost all their autonomy”.
A Sunday Times journalist tracked her to South America, as reported in Camden New Journal. No remorse shown, schemes halted.
Why Has This Story Resurfaced in a BBC Documentary?
The Million Pound Shaman Scam, a two-part BBC Two series (Episode 1 details Hampstead infiltration), aired recently, exposing the full tale. BBC programme pages describe a fraudster scamming Hampstead residents of a million pounds while masquerading as a healer. It parallels Profumo’s osteopath web with Bender at the centre.
The series promises deeper victim testimonies, reinforcing 2014 coverage.
What Lessons Emerge from the Hampstead Elite Scam?
Victims lost savings to fund extravagance, facing ruin and dependency. Neutral reporting underscores coercion’s dangers in elite circles. As Etan Smallman notes, Nicholls preyed via trust, exploiting vulnerabilities. Authorities warn of similar faith healer frauds.
The case remains a benchmark for confidence scams, per judicial remarks. Hampstead’s leafy allure masked profound deception.
