Drugs police raid...wood-burning stove

Feb 26 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

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.”