Herbalist cleared of poison pill charge

Jie Zheng had denied all the charges brought against her

A Chinese herbalist accused of selling a treatment which caused a woman to suffer kidney failure has been cleared by a jury at Hove Crown Court.

Zie Zheng was alleged to have prescribed a cocktail of pills containing a poisonous plant extract to treat a woman's psoriasis.

The 37-year-old of the Guo Yao Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Centre in St James Street, Brighton, had denied four charges of selling a medicinal product containing a prohibited substance.

During a two-week trial the court heard how after taking the drug for three years catering manager Sandra Stay, 59, from Hove became seriously ill.

She had to have both kidneys removed and now needs dialysis.

The attempted prosecution was brought by the Department of Health.