Police raid leaves couple ‘shattered’
Reporter: by BEATRIZ AYALA
Date published: 08 August 2008
A HATHERSHAW father has spoken of his shock at returning home to find his back door kicked in and a message on his fridge: “Oldham Task Force Called”.
On Wednesday, only 11 days after moving into the Letham Street, Hathershaw, property, Aaron West (20) found it had been raided and searched.
Mr West, who lives in the privately rented house with his partner Leeanne Baker and two-year-old son Leighton Baker-West, said: “When we came back at about 2pm there was a man who told me he was here to fix my door.
“I thought it was a mistake and told him it didn’t need fixing but when I went into my house, I saw the wooden kitchen door on the floor and police in the back yard.
“They said they had been looking for a criminal they believed was in the house and began to ask me questions.
“I told them I didn’t know anything so they left telling me to contact the chief constable if I wanted a new door.”
Mr West said it could take weeks to get a replacement and his family is having trouble sleeping after the incident. He intends to claim compensation.
He said: “I don’t know what I’m going to tell the landlord. The door is off its hinges and there is a big hole in it. I’ve had to board up the back door and the damage makes the place look like a crack house. I had only just had my kitchen floor tiles laid and some of them are broken.
“And my fridge magnets had been rearranged to spell out “Oldham Task Force Called”.
“None of us got any sleep on Wednesday night because we don’t feel safe without a proper back door.
“The police could have just waited for me to come back home. I’ve got nothing to hide.”
Sgt Mike Peake said: “A number of properties in the Hathershaw area, including Mr West’s, were lawfully entered by us, as part of a search for a wanted man who had been recalled to prison.
“Mr West visited the police station and I explained, in detail, the reasons for our entry into his home and advised him that the procedure to obtain compensation for his door was to write to the chief constable.
“He seemed happy with this and I am now surprised by this reaction.
“When looking for a wanted criminal we act on intelligence and use the necessary powers available to us, to ensure they are found quickly and returned to prison.”
