POLICE have been left "stunned" after the owner of more than 3kg of cannabis walked free from court.

Roy Pickett, aged 20, was arrested by Bromley police last September after they discovered 3.24kg of cannabis resin and £8,500 cash at his address in Berry's Hill, Cudham.

He denied the charge of possession with intent to supply, claiming the drugs, with a street value of more than £9,000, were for personal use.

Following a three-day trial at Croydon Crown Court, a jury found builder Mr Pickett not guilty of the charge - despite the fact the amount of resin discovered was enough to make 12,400 joints.

After the trial ended on July 4, Detective Sergeant Gary Gornell, of Bromley police, said he was "absolutely stunned" by the decision.

A police spokesman added: "If he smoked a spliff a day it would take more than 33 years to get through his personal cannabis stash."

The jury also cleared Mr Pickett of possessing criminal property after he argued the £8,500 found in a cupboard was his life savings.