A former doorman at a cannabis café has been cleared of any wrongdoing by a jury.

Mike Allday, 42, of Leconfield Road in Lancing, had faced charges of allowing the premises in Victoria Road, Worthing, to be used for dealing and using cannabis.

His arrest in August 2005 followed a police raid on the café.

Mr Allday had maintained his innocence throughout the two years it took to bring him to trial.

He was cleared by a unanimous verdict following two hours of deliberation by the jury at Croydon Crown Court.

Speaking exclusively to The Argus afterwards, Mr Allday said: "I knew it would be a not guilty verdict.

"The foreman of the jury told me afterwards there was not a scrap of evidence to convict me.

"The police botched the raid. They set fire to the building and people were trapped inside at the time.

"The whole thing has been a farce from start to finish and the verdict of the jury proves it."

Heavy cutting equipment was needed by police to force their way into the five rooms on the first floor of the building.

More than 20 people were found inside.

Around 260 small plastic bags, each containing cannabis, were discovered, along with other paraphernalia connected with the drug.

There were two sets of electronic scales and many empty plastic bags as well as cannabis grinders.

Mr Allday was not in the café at the time of the raid but when he was later seen outside he claimed: "I've got nothing to do with the café."

A film of the police raid - named Operation Firebird - was shown to the jury.

Mr Allday, in evidence, claimed his only function had been as head of café security. He maintained he had nothing to do with the management of the venue.

The case is the latest development in the long-running battle between police and cannabis users in the area. Officers have previously raided and successfully closed down the Bongchuffa café in Rowlands Road, Worthing, along with the premises in Victoria Road.

However, officers have been less successful in their attempt to close down the suspected cannabis café in Freshbrook Road, Lancing.

Three raids have been carried out on the heavily fortified building this year.

On two occasions small amounts of the drug have been recovered and on the last none was found.

Chief Inspector Lawrence Hobbs, Sussex Police's district commander for the Adur area, has said his force will continue to execute warrants on the building "as and when" it is felt necessary.

The police chief told The Argus he wants to prevent drug dealers profiting from crime but said those who use small amounts of cannabis in their own homes were unlikely to be targeted.