ONE of the four Swindon defendants alleged to be part of a drugs conspiracy involving vast amounts of money was cleared yesterday.

Bristol Crown Court judge David Ticehurst directed the jury to find her not guilty of conspiring to supply cannabis and cocaine, because of insufficient evidence.

Outside the court Miss Bunce, 41, of Croft Road, Old Town, said she was relieved it was all over.

"This has been going on for nearly two years, so it is such a big relief," she said.

She said that she had maintained her innocence throughout and the facts had spoken for themselves. Her priority now, she added, was to protect her children.

"I think we will have to move house for their sake," she said. "There are a lot of things for me to make decisions about."

Still facing charges are Mark Kirwan, 42, of Farrfield, Upper Stratton; Craig Wanless, 27, of Braydon Court, Penhill; Richard Brinsdon, 34, of Penhill Drive, Penhill; Graham Stratton, 32, of Ebbw Vale, South Wales; Colin Roy Butler, 58, and his wife Rose, 54, of Bermondsey, London.

All have admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis, but deny the charge of conspiring to supply cocaine.

Stratton, and Butler's son Colin John Butler, 35, also of Bermondsey, deny conspiring to supply cannabis.

Giving evidence, Butler senior told the court that he supplemented his sickness benefit income by casual jobs and buying and selling warehouse goods.

He was introduced to selling cannabis by a friend called Mick, who used to buy cars at auctions and ask Butler to drive them home.

He said that he never told his son, a chauffeur, that he was selling cannabis and that Butler junior had only been driving the car on the day they were arrested because he was concerned that his father might have a blackout.

He was not aware of the consignment of cannabis, which was transferred from the boot of the Audi to Kirwan's Ford Mondeo.

He said he met Vincent Gibbs, who was his main contact in Swindon, at an auction.

Gibbs, of Croft Road, along with William Livingstone of Lyndhurst Crescent, Park North, have already admitted both charges.

When police recorded a telephone conversation between them, where Gibbs talked about "going on the rocks," Butler thought he had said "blocks."

He didn't realise the word was "rocks" until the tape was played in the courtroom.

n The trial continues

tclarke@newswilts.co.uk