A woman who is alleged to have duped elderly customers into buying 'therapy units' told a court she never said it could help cure Parkinson's.

Georgina Dean, 39, of Barnham Broom Road, Wymondham, is on trial accused of deceiving elderly customers by promising the mats were medically approved and could treat a number of conditions including Parkinson's and cancer.

Norwich Crown Court has heard Dean, also known as Elizabeth, operated under two different trading names, Norfolk Eco and the Green Leaf Group, selling the items to customers around Norfolk.

The jury has been told customers paid up to £700 for what Norfolk Trading Standards claim are cheap massage mattresses which can be bought on Ebay for £30.

Giving evidence yesterday, Dean, who has denied two counts of fraudulent trading, told Marthew McNiff, defending, that she had not made dishonest claims about products she was selling or used dishonest means to sell them.

He said: 'Have you tried to trick people?'

She replied: 'No.'

Mr McNiff asked if she had ever lied to people and again she replied 'no'.

When asked by Mr McNiff if telling customers the units could help cure Parkinson's or stop it in its tracks was something she would say, she said: 'No, never.'

She said she was 'trying to help people' and was not a 'vindictive person'.

She told the jury they tried it out and if it worked and it helped 'ease their pain', they bought it; if not, they didn't.

In cross examination, Jamie Sawyer, prosecuting, asked if Dean would 'lie to get a sale' or get her 'foot through the door'.

Dean replied: 'No.'

He put it to her that the basis of her business was 'to deceive customers'.

She replied: 'No it wasn't.'

The trial continues.