Police close down crack house (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Police close down crack house in Bower Street, Widnes

10:00am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News

A CRACK house has been shut down by police in Widnes.

Officers from Cheshire Police boarded up 41 Bower Street on Friday.

They had received complaints from neighbours that drug users were gathering there.

Tenant Michael Duck appeared at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to oppose the application for it to be closed.

The court heard that a variety of class A drugs were known to be taken at the ‘damp, dirty’ address including crack cocaine.

Elizabeth Heavey, prosecuting, said that vulnerable teenagers as young as 14 were going there to take drugs.

She said neighbours also felt ‘intimidated and distressed’ over loud music, anti-social behaviour and fights outside the house.

Others were ‘too terrified’ to give even anonymous statements to the police, with elderly residents scared to go near it.

Incidents normally started at 1am and carried on for several hours, the court heard. When officers searched the house they found equipment used to smoke crack cocaine.

PC Dawn Taylor gave evidence during proceedings.

She said: “Whenever you go round there, there is always evidence of drug taking.

“When you knock on the door there is always a delay.

“In my opinion that shows drugs are being hidden before you enter the property.”

Mr Duck, who has a previous conviction for dealing heroin, lives at the address with partner Joanne Keates and her son Jamie Bagnall.

He blamed the complaints and police calls on former resident Richard Knight.

Mr Duck, a drug addict who recently tested positive for heroin and cocaine, said: “I feel I have done everything to keep peace on the street.”

But magistrates approved the closure notice. The house will remain boarded up for three months.