A HUDDERSFIELD man has blasted “Wild West Yorkshire Police” who raided his home expecting to uncover a cannabis factory – only to find a wood-burning stove.

Officers broke down a door at Colin Rowe’s Newsome home after an infra-red police helicopter camera picked up unusual heat patterns from the house.

But rather than a cannabis factory, the officers found a wood-burning stove in the workshop where Mr Rowe restores cars.

He said: “I find it quite disturbing that Wild West Yorkshire Police can do what they want.”

Mr Rowe, 41, came home to find his garage door had been forced open.

He said: “There was a big hole in the door which was large enough to get your arm through, the hinges were bent, there were bits of wood on the floor and one of my plant pots was broken. There was a brush and shovel right by the door so, if they’d had any compassion, they would have at least swept up the mess.”

Mr Rowe added that the officers had not secured the door after breaking it. He said: “There was a piece of chipboard over the door but it was only secured with six screws; you could pull it off.”

Mr Rowe found two documents had been put through his letterbox. He said: “One was a search warrant and the other was a list of evidence taken with nothing written on it.”

Mr Rowe, who has lived in the house since May 2008, is upset with the way Police behaved. He said: “I think it’s disgraceful, I didn’t think the Police would treat anyone like this without good reason.

“My dad was a police officer for 40 years and he’s disgusted about this.”

Mr Rowe, who works as a technician at Leeds College, went to Huddersfield Police Station to complain.

He said: “I spoke to the WPC who applied for the warrant and she said a police helicopter had noted the heat source from my home.

“She said they sent a patrol to my house and found I had bars on my windows at the back. That’s to prevent burglary – I don’t think it’s excessive.”

Mr Rowe, who has no criminal record, said: “I think it’s a pretty poor way for them to behave given that I’m not the sort of person who’s known to police.”

He added: “I have been given a form to claim compensation and I hope the Police will pay for the damage.”

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Following intelligence received, officers executed a drugs warrant at an address in Newsome at 9.43am on February 20.

“During the execution of the warrant a door to an external building was forced. Officers located no drugs and arrangements were made for the door to be left secure. At 10.09am, the company we use to board properties had been contacted and had confirmed that they were attending at the address.

“No entry was made by officers into the main house itself. It is standard policy that we will pay for repairs in such circumstances and we would be happy to discuss any concerns Mr Rowe has.”