Residents have told how ‘nightmare from hell’ neighbours turned their peaceful street into a haven for dangerous dogs and round-the-clock drug dealing.
Their quiet area of Macclesfield, Cheshire, had been shattered by ‘scary’ dealers selling heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis from a bungalow for 18 months.
One said it was like ‘living next to Pablo Escobar’ as buyers turned up at all hours from midday and dangerous XL bully dogs were bred there.
The tenants have now been evicted and Cheshire Police have boarded up the bungalow in Penningtons Lane after magistrates slapped it with a three-month closure notice.
Police had descended on the bungalow in 28 separate visits and raided it several times after complaints from neighbours.
Pensioner Steve Booth, 64, said: ‘It was a nightmare.
The quiet area of Macclesfield, Cheshire, had been shattered by ‘scary’ dealers selling heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis
‘We had people turning up all hours from the early afternoon to buy all sorts of drugs.
‘You couldn’t sit out as the stench of marijuana continuously wafted over from their garden.
‘They put an advert on Facebook of all the drugs that they were selling – heroin and crack cocaine.
‘Then you would have people racing up and down in the lane on motorbikes.
‘This is a peaceful, sought-after area but it was shattered for 18 months by these people.
‘We had different people living at the address but all the same horrendous problems.
‘At one point there were a couple with children who bred XL bully dogs. It was shocking.’
Mother-of-two Sarah Bright, 67, said: ‘These people came straight from a cesspit.
‘They were selling all sorts of drugs and destroyed our peace and quiet.
‘The police should have kicked them out sooner.
‘You’d see a small older guy wandering around the place who seemed to be in charge.
‘Then there were different people there at different times.’
Another neighbour, who did not want to give her name, said: ‘It was hell.
‘We’d have people turn up at all hours – it was like living next door to Pablo Escobar with so many drugs here.
‘It was scary with so many odd people here buying drugs. We complained so many times to police.’
Retired osteopath Mike Gardiner, 81, said: ‘It was shocking it happened here.
‘It’s such a quiet area – most of the people here are retired who live in bungalows.
‘I can’t believe all this was going on here.
‘This is not where you’d expect all sorts of trouble and the world of drugs and dangerous dogs.’
Cheshire Police were granted the closure order at Chester Magistrates’ Court on July 11.
The force said officers presented the court with ‘substantial evidence of anti-social behaviour and drug dealing, namely cannabis, heroin and crack cocaine’.
Since December 2022, officers attended the address on 28 separate occasions.
Police had descended on the bungalow in 28 separate visits and raided it several times
A force spokesperson said: ‘The frequent visits to the address by known local drug dealers resulted in warrants being conducted on multiple occasions with drug paraphernalia found inside.
‘The address has, however, has also been the subject of anti-social behaviour and, in 2023, officers attended the address in relation to the keeping of several XL Bully dogs that required six police dog handlers to control.’
Sergeant Matthew Bassirat added: ‘Penningtons Lane is a quiet road on the outskirts of Macclesfield lined with bungalow properties, it is a lovely road and a sought-after location.
‘However, one address on this otherwise peaceful street has caused nothing but distress and upset to the residents for well over 18 months, with frequent reports of criminality and the supply of illegal drugs.
‘I am grateful this order against this disruptive address has been granted and hope they will bring reassurance to residents in the area that we are committed to doing all we can to tackle this kind of behaviour.’
