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Growers cleared of selling cannabis at Dartmoor rave

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A pair of rave goers have been cleared of selling cannabis at an illegal gathering on Dartmoor after telling a jury they were users rather than dealers. Kerry Hosband and Simon Linsell were stopped by police as they left the overnight dance event at Fernworthy Reservoir and home grown cannabis and scales found in their car. They both admitted being involved in growing cannabis for their own use but denied supplying their harvest to anyone else. They were cleared by a jury at Exeter Crown Court after they explained texts on their phones asking for drugs as being unwanted requests from friends who knew they were involved in growing plants. Building worker Hosband, aged 37, of Church Road, St Thomas, Exeter, and Linsell, aged 40, of Bullen Street, Thorverton, were both acquitted of possessing of cannabis with intent to supply in August 2012. They had previously admitted production of the drug at their homes and Linsell has admitted offering it for sale on an earlier occasion. They will be sentenced for these offences later. During a three day trial the jury heard how police were checking vehicles leaving the illegal rave at Fernworthy when they stopped Linsell's BMW. A set of miniature digital scales and a bag of cannabis was found on the back seat and a larger bag of the drug was found in a secret compartment in the boot. The prosecution alleged they had gone to the overnight party at Fernworthy to sell the drugs they grew at their homes. Hosband had a small tent with eight plants and bags of cannabis above his oven and in his freezer. Linsell had growing equipment and admitted he helped water other people's plants. They had cash on them and messages on their phones appeared to be from customers asking for cannabis. Hosband said he took £200 from a cashpoint on the way to the rave and had only spent £5 before he was arrested. He said he smoked cannabis at the rave and got drunk on vodka but not been involved with selling drugs before or during the party. He explained text messages asking for 'bud' and 'green' came from friends who knew he was growing his own supply. Linsell also denied taking cannabis to the rave and said he knew nothing about the drugs found in his car.

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