THE address in Butts Road raided for drugs by Alton police in July was targeted again last Friday morning, resulting in the arrest of one man on suspicion of possession of methodone.
A Òsubstantial amountÓ of what is believed to be the Class A drug was found at the premises, known to local police as Ôthe SquatÕ, after officers from Hampshire PoliceÕs Divisional Support Unit (DSU) forced entry to the house.
The substance has been seized and sent for laboratory analysis to confirm its identity and exact amount.
The original raid happened on July 31, after neighbours of the property complained of noise, suspicious activity and a peculiar pattern of visitors to the house. Covert surveillance on the house was set up, and the observations made seemed to corroborate suspicions of drug dealing activity.
DSU officers gained entry to the house, followed by Alton officers who conducted a thorough search of the property. Seven men were arrested after police found a substantial amount of cannabis resin, assorted drug taking paraphernalia and various stolen property.
The latest raid occurred at 5-50 am on Friday morning, following more covert surveillance on the property by Alton officers. The surveillance was brought about by the same kind of complaints by neighbours which caused police to raid the property back in July.
The DSU squad found only one man in the house, and promptly arrested him. During another detailed search of the house, police found the suspect substance, along with more drug-taking paraphernalia such as burnt tin foil indicative of methodone use, and hypodermic needles.
The name of the 20-year-old, unemployed man cannot be published for legal reasons. He has been released on police bail, to return to Alton Police Station on December 6.
Inspector Steve Mote of Alton police explained why he thinks that criminal activity at the house has now been stopped permanently. He said: ÒThe man arrested on Friday was one of those arrested in the first raid on the house, but no further action was taken against him because we could not find evidence to link him to the drug activity at the house.
ÒAfter the first raid, the seven men were allowed back to the address, but the landlord quickly served them all with eviction notices. Six of the men left the house, but one ignored the notice and carried on living there. This was the man that was arrested on Friday.
ÒAfter the man was arrested this time, the house was boarded up so that none of its previous occupants could return.
ÒNow that the house has been boarded up and secured, we are confident that criminal activity at the house will stop. Much of this will be up to the householder, but we are as confident as we can be.Ó
Inspector Mote has also issued a stern warning to all the participants in criminal activity at the house. He said: ÒWe made a promise that we would hit the house again if we thought the activity had not stopped, and that is exactly what we did.
ÒWe know who these people are and we know where they are. We will still be keeping an eye on them and disrupting them whenever necessary. If you deal in drugs, you can expect to be disrupted.Ó
The latest raid on the house came just one day after four of the men arrested in the first drugs raid on the property appeared at Aldershot Magistrates Court.
Michael Coles (21) of Winchester Road in Four Marks, has pleaded guilty to the charges of possession of heroin and two counts of theft. He will appear before Aldershot magistrates again on Wednesday, November 13, for sentencing.
Coles has also been charged with offering to supply cannabis and supplying heroin, but has made no plea as yet to these charges.
Ryan Keith McGill (32) of Pell Street in Reading, is charged with offering to supply cannabis resin, possession of cannabis resin, and one count of theft. No plea has been indicated on these charges.
Stephen Geoffrey John Groves (24) of Manor Road in Alton has been charged with offering to supply cannabis resin and possession of cannabis resin, with no plea indicated for either charge.
Simon James Groves (22) of Wilsom Close in Alton, has been charged with offering to supply cannabis resin, and again, no plea has been indicated on this charge.
All three men will appear at Aldershot Magistrates Court again on Monday, December 23, for a committal hearing, when they will be given a date for the Crown Court hearing which will take place at Winchester.