A FORMER Darwin tobacconist is refusing to pay a $3500 fine for false and misleading conduct after claiming to be a “mind communicator” with supernatural healing powers.

Colin Thompson – trading as the Esoteric Mind Specialist and “addiction doctor” – said he was prepared for a court battle with Consumer Affairs, which issued the fine along with a public warning.

“People think I’m a witch doctor, a crazy man,” Mr Thompson said.

“I am 100 per cent confident everything I do and what is in my brochure is true. All I have done is cure people.”

Mr Thompson, 65, agreed to close his business and cancel affiliated websites and bank accounts during a meeting with authorities in January this year, but later rescinded the “good faith” agreement.

He said he had not been trading.

The NT News has previously reported on the former Smith St Mall Smokes N Things proprietor’s self-proclaimed “miraculous and supernatural” treatment services, and a court case in which he was given a six-month suspended sentence for trying to sell $36,000 worth of synthetic cannabis known as “kronic”.

NT Consumer Affairs Commissioner Gary Clements has warned people to “exercise caution” when dealing with Mr Thompson.

His promotional material claims he has the “ability to instantly and permanently cure people of various medically incurable ailments as well as addictions, including smoking”, and that doctors are useless.

“Consumer protection laws require that any claims being made by a business when they market their products and services are accurate, truthful and can be proven,” Mr Clements said. “Where there is a risk that people could stop conventional treatments, businesses must ensure claims about their therapies are supported by credible results.”

The Health and Community Services Complaints Commission released a report finding Mr Thompson, who is operating out of his home at Howard Springs, had potentially breached consumer law in late 2014.

Mr Clements said prosecution on charges of false or misleading representations about goods and services could attract fines of up to $220,000 each.

NT Consumer Affairs: 1800 019 319 or consumer @nt.gov.au.