A TEENAGER accused of "babysitting" a haul of drugs so she could sell them has been cleared.

Kelly Bell, 18, moved the 517 tablets of amphetamine from the home she shared with boyfriend, Carl Watson, and hid them in the back yard after he was arrested, Burnley Crown Court was told.

On the direction of Judge Raymond Bennett, the jury found Bell, of Whitehall Street, Nelson, not guilty of possessing 59 tablets last September 20, and possessing 517 tablets with intent to supply.

Harold Blackshaw, prosecuting, said Bell lived with Mr Watson at a house in Burnley.

He was stopped on September 20 riding his mountain bike and police found 59 tablets of amphetamine on him. The tablets were stamped with a tomahawk motif and apparently had been made to look like ecstasy - and were maybe going to be sold as if they were.

Watson was taken to the police station and his home searched that night. He was bailed the next day and his house again searched. This time the 517 tablets were found, wrapped in a carrier bag, concealed in the back yard.

Mr Blackshaw said both defendants were arrested. The tablets found in the yard were identical in appearance to those seized from Watson when he had been stopped the night before.

Bell said she had lived with Watson for about four months and was under the impression the tablets were ecstasy. She said they belonged to another person and alleged she and Watson were looking after them for him. Bell told police the 59 tablets were their "payment" from the other person for doing that.

Mr Blackshaw had said Bell claimed after Watson was arrested, she had moved the 517 tablets from their hiding place in the house, in fear of the property being searched.

He added Watson had pleaded guilty to both the charges.

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