Couple 'terrified' after mistaken drug raid at home

Barry and Mavis Lovelock say they were just finishing their breakfast on Saturday morning when they noticed "a load of" officers outside their home

A couple said they were left "terrified" after police burst into their home as part of a drugs raid, acting on a tip-off that turned out to be "not fully accurate".

Barry and Mavis Lovelock, aged 80 and 78 respectively, were finishing their breakfast on Saturday morning when they noticed "a load of" officers outside their home in Newfoundpool, Leicester.

They said officers smashed through their front door, with Mrs Lovelock saying she "broke down in tears" as a result of the ordeal.

Leicestershire Police said officers were acting on "information received that related to the production of cannabis", but after no plants were found, the force confirmed it had apologised to the pair.

Mrs Lovelock told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the experience was "awful", adding she could "not stop shaking" afterwards.

"They hit [the door]. [Barry] heard them hit the door, so he shouted, 'hang on, mate', and somebody shouted back to him, 'stand clear'," she said.

"They just rammed the door in. It was awful. They knocked the gate at the back in and all.

"It was terrifying and I said to them, 'what the devil do you think you're doing'? I said, 'there's two pensioners here', and they just stood there."

'Due diligence completed'

The couple said they were shown a warrant with their house number on it.

Mrs Lovelock said she and her husband were told their house was raided because of how often there was heat coming from the chimney.

She said this was just because they had their heating "on all the time".

Leicestershire Police has since said it would reimburse the couple for any damage caused during the raid, Mrs Lovelock added.

A spokesperson for the force told the LDRS that officers executed two warrants at properties in Leicester on Saturday, and were done based on information received that related to the production of cannabis.

They said: "Due diligence was completed prior to the enforcement taking place.

"However, the force acknowledges that the information was not fully accurate and no plants were found inside.

"Officers have spoken to the residents living at that address regarding the incident to apologise, provide reassurance and explain why the lawfully-executed warrant took place.

"At the other property, 79 cannabis plants were seized. No-one was arrested and an investigation is continuing."