A MAN accused of a Kendal Calling drug supply crime has been unanimously acquitted by a jury.

Sammi Obaid, 25, went on trial at Carlisle Crown Court having denied one allegation. This alleged that, on July 28 last year, he was in possession of a class C controlled drug with intent to supply it.

A jury had heard evidence from Joseph Dowsett, a joiner and rugby player from the Barrow area who was working at the festival as a camp site supervisor.

While dealing with another incident, Mr Dowsett said a male approached and asked: "Do you want to buy any pills?"

After initially deciding to "play along", he then identified himself as a security staff member, confirming to jurors his "anti-drugs" stance and telling of Mr Obaid being detained. In his bag were 213 methandienone tablets - an anabolic steroid which is legal to possess but unlawful to supply.

But, giving evidence, Mr Obaid insisted he had done nothing wrong.

Keen on ice hockey and keeping fit, he spoke of being part-way through a steroid cycle at the time, and took tablets to the festival so this could continue.

He had a labelled bottle with a medical note enclosed, and said the tablets were inspected when he entered the festival site by a police officer who told him: "You're good to go."

Mr Obaid said he spoke with Mr Dowsett about their respective sporting interests and physical size.

He said he reached into his bag, gathered some steroids and said to Mr Dowsett: "I bet you're on these."

This comment had earlier been disputed by Mr Dowsett in his evidence.

Mr Obaid was asked by his lawyer whether he offered tablets for sale. "Absolutely not, and I want to make that crystal clear," he told the jury.

Asked whether he made an alleged sale offer of "four for £30", Mr Obaid, of Heaton Royds, Shay Lane, Bradford, responded: "Not at all. Not at any point was a sale ever hinted at - at all."

After hearing all evidence in the case, jurors found Mr Obaid not guilty, unanimously, of the charge he faced.