A Polish Hindu? Wow!

Soon we might have a Marsian hindu.

The couple had both pleaded guilty at the  start of the trial to cultivating cannabis between January 2009 and August 2012.  Mrs Dryden-Chouen denied possessing cannabis with intent to supply between  November 2003 and January 2004.

She and her husband both denied a similar  charge between January 2004 and January 2009 and a third charge relating to the  period between January 2009 and August last year when police raided their  home.

Mr and Mrs Dryden-Chouen further denied a  money laundering offence - converting £277,559 which was the proceeds of crime  between June 2006 and August 2012. They also denied that the £12,890 found near  a 'shrine' in the house was criminal property - the proceeds of drug  dealing.

Mrs Dryden-Chouen denied a further charge of  possessing diazepam tablets with intent to supply on 6th July 2012.

After almost five-and-a-half hours of  deliberations, a jury found the couple not guilty of all outstanding  charges.

But Judge Alastair McGrigor warned them they  may still face jail on the cultivation of cannabis charge. He bailed them for  pre-sentence reports and adjourned to a date to be fixed.

The jury heard that when Mrs Dryden-Chouen  was arrested in July last year she said she was a homeopath and healer and that  she did not know having cannabis was illegal.

She said she grew cannabis for religious  purposes and medical research. She also said she believed the world was coming  to an end on December 21 last year and she intended to create a Homa (a burning  pit) for a ceremony to burn the cannabis.

Gloucester Crown Court: Judge Alastair McGrigor warned  the couple they may still face jail on the cultivation of cannabis charge. He  bailed them for pre-sentence reports and adjourned to a date to be  fixed

Prosecutor Paul Grumbar said that 'just about  every room in the house had cannabis in it' when police stormed in.

In all, said Mr Grumbar, the police recovered  15 established plants and 41 juvenile ones which would have yielded 2.866lb of  flowering head cannabis. The drug sells for about £2,250 a pound.

Also found in three locations in the property  were 1,844 blue Diazepam tablets.

And in a white metal box in an  office/meditation room there was £12,890 in cash which the prosecution claimed  was the proceeds of drug dealing.

After the jury gave its verdict the judge  asked whether Mr Dryden-Chouen might now be prosecuted for not paying income  tax.

He said it would be helpful to know before he  passes sentence on the couple whether the Customs and Revenue will be following  that up.

Mr Grumbar said: 'The Revenue will no doubt  be contacted.'

Judge McGrigor granted Mr Grumbar's  application to have all the drugs and growing paraphernalia found in the house  destroyed.

Bailing the couple he told them: 'This matter  is not entirely over. You are going to be sentenced in relation to the material  that was found in the house. All options are still open to the  court.'

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