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UK: Doorman cleared in drugs trial

Huw Borland

The Argus, Worthing

Tuesday 02 Dec 2003

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A doorman has been found not guilty of allowing people to smoke marijuana at a
cafe.

Jurors at Chichester Crown Court yesterday took 20 minutes to clear Michael
Allday, 37, of two charges related to cannabis use at Quantum Leaf in Worthing.

The court had heard how cannabis campaigner Chris Baldwin wanted to prove the
benefits of a Dutch-style cannabis cafe in England and set up Quantum Leaf in
the back room of his marijuana paraphernalia shop, Bongchuffa, in Rowlands
Road.

Police raided the store on November 27, 2002.

Mr Allday, of Leconfield Road, Lancing, Baldwin, 52, of Carnegie Close,
Worthing, Winston Matthews, 46, of Court Lodge Road, Horley and Mark Benson,
37, of Irene Avenue, Lancing, were charged with a number of drug-related
offences.

Baldwin and Benson have admitted permitting cannabis to be smoked at a property
and Matthews has admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

Mr Allday said, being a doorman, he was nothing to do with running Bongchuffa
and denied charges of allowing cannabis and cannabis resin to be smoked at the
cafe.

Francis Lloyd, prosecuting, said the raid resulted in an estimated £2,000
worth
of cannabis and £4,000 in cash being seized.

He said: "Mr Allday said to police he was employed for security and was nothing
to do with the actual cafe.

"Clearly he had some role, when police asked him about the safe in Cafe trial
doorman cleared the cafe he was able to open it.

"He was not interviewed by police on November 27 but on January 15, 2003.

"He said, 'I'm a security consultant. I was checking things out, making sure we
did not get people you don't want in there - criminals, lunatics, drunks, drug
addicts'."

Jeremy Wainwright, defending, said: "Being the muscle does not mean 'concerned
in the management'. He says he was there to stand on the door and look the
part. He did stand there and looked the part but he did not manage it."

After the hearing, Mr Allday said: "I have got faith in British justice."

Baldwin, Benson and Matthews will appear at Chichester Crown Court on January 9
for sentencing.

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