A “personal friend” and former business partner of Nigel Farage was an influential figure in a conspiracy-based cryptocurrency group that was accused of scamming investors out of thousands of pounds. 

John Mappin, a Scientologist and proponent of the QAnon hoax, promoted Awoke Coin multiple times on his social media channels, encouraging his followers to invest in the “anti-woke” digital currency.

Mappin, 61, is the owner of the Camelot Castle hotel in Cornwall where he has hosted the Reform leader on a number of occasions. The pair were also briefly business partners in a Scientology-linked carbon offsetting company which Mappin introduced Farage to. 

The hotelier is a supporter of the Russian government and…