THE girlfriend of a Winchester drug dealer who was accused of being part of his “large scale cannabis dealing operation” has been acquitted following a trial.

Ella Moseley, aged 28, of Grange Close, St Cross, was this week found not guilty of three charges following a three-day trial at Winchester Crown Court.

The jury returned not guilty verdicts on all counts, two of possession of cannabis with intent to supply and another of being in possession of criminal property.

The senior environmental consultant told the court that she believed the sums of money given to her by her boyfriend were from his sales of cryptocurrency and jobs that he would receive cash for.

Ms Moseley’s partner, Benedict Watson, 27, also of Grange Close, has pleaded guilty to the offences and will be sentenced at the same court December 16.

He has admitted to being in possession of 5.47kg of cannabis on March 16, 2018 and 40g of cannabis on April 6, 2018.

Following a police investigation Watson has also pleaded guilty to being in possession of criminal property namely £77,590.

Detectives looked into the couple’s bank accounts and found that the sum of money had “no obvious legitimate explanation” such as wages and savings.