Crack den was a living nightmare for neighbours

A 'CRACK DEN' in Knowle West that made life a nightmare for residents has been closed down.

Residents in Connaught Road claimed up to 40 users a day would visit Dionne Bath's property at all times of the day, making their lives unbearable.

At Bristol Magistrates' Court yesterday District Judge David Parsons made a closure order on 97 Connaught Road for three months.

When police raided the property last October they had been prevented from gaining quick access by a barricaded door. And a CCTV system had been installed so those inside the house could see who was at the door.

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Mother-of-two Miss Bath, 32, claimed the door was not barricaded and the CCTV was to protect her from assaults from her former partner.

She claimed she knew nothing of any drug-taking or dealing at her home despite a man having just injected heroin in the bedroom when police raided the property.

Mr Parsons said: "The consequences of people coming to the house has caused others to lose sleep and people living close by say their lives were made a living nightmare.

"The fact 30 to 40 people attend the property at all times of the day undermines Miss Bath's claim that she didn't know people were taking drugs. It has become clear to me that she has no real insight in relation to the damage the occupation of her premises causes her neighbours and it is right the court intervenes."

The court heard an anonymous statement from a neighbour that said: "It has had a big effect on my life and I would say it is a living nightmare and I want this nightmare to end."

Giving evidence Miss Bath, who has no convictions for drugs-related matters, added that swabs that were positive for cocaine in the property must have been from items she had bought in a second-hand shop.

Her solicitor said there was "scant evidence" of nuisance-related drug dealing from the property.

After the hearing Sergeant Trevor Sweeting said: "Local residents reported up to 40 people a day visiting the address. Drug exchanges through a downstairs bedroom window have also been witnessed by police officers. On one occasion the person supplied with drugs was arrested and convicted resulting in an eight-month custodial sentence.

"The drug supply and public nuisance associated with 97 Connaught Road turned into normal behaviour for the local residents of Filwood. "This ruling has broken the chain of illegal activity and hopefully given some closure to local residents who have endured this behaviour for the last six years."