A Chinese herbalist walked free from court after a jury found her not guilty of selling medicines containing a banned substance.

Jie Zheng, 37, ran the Guo Yao Acupuncture Centre in St James's Street, Brighton, with her mother, a qualified Chinese doctor, until August 2003.

Mrs Zheng was charged with four counts of selling a medicinal product containing a prohibited substance and was found not guilty on all charges.

The jury considered the case for four hours before reaching a unanimous decision.

At a previous trial, jurors had been unable to reach a verdict.

The case arose after catering supervisor Sandra Stay, 59, suffered severe renal failure and had both kidneys removed in 2001.

She had told the court she received treatment at the Kemp Town clinic for psoriasis between 1998 and 2001 before becoming ill.

A medical expert told the jury at Hove Crown Court that the organ damage could only have been caused by aristolochic acid, a plant extract which even in small amounts could cause kidney damage.

The substance was banned by the Medicines Control Agency in 1999.

Peter Gower, prosecuting, told the court that the clinic sold Mrs Stay pills containing the banned substance.

However, when the product was banned, Mrs Zheng and her mother got rid of all products containing it.

The court heard that when the officer from the Medicines Control Agency asked to see records for Sandra Stay they could not be found.

Mrs Zheng said she would throw away records if a patient did not attend for more than two years. She did not remember her.

Outside court, David Lamming read a statement by Mrs Zheng.

He said: "Jie Zheng feels a great sense of relief at today's decision by the jury. She has every sympathy for Sandra Stay and has always maintained that she was not responsible for her medical condition.

"The trial caused her and her family great stress and anxiety.

"She wishes to get on with the rest of her life and put this whole experience behind her."

Friday November 07, 2003