A HALTON man accused of stealing from the special care baby unit at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary has been cleared after the prosecution offered no evidence.

A not guilty verdict was formally recorded on Friday in the case of Paul Cusimano at Lancaster crown court. He had faced charges of theft from the unit between April 1 1997 and 1998, which were said to relate to money raised by Mr Cusimano in running the London marathon.

Speaking after the case, a 'relieved but angry' Mr Cusimano, 34, of Quarry Road, Halton, said he had been accused of an appalling crime which had never happened.

He added: "I have been totally cleared with no evidence offered. I would like it to be known that there is a huge background to this case which I expect to emerge in due course."