WOOD BURNING STOVE!

When an infra-red camera on the police helicopter identified a suspicious heat pattern coming from Colin Rowe's workshop, officers were convinced it was the site of a cannabis factory.

They obtained the necessary search warrant and forced the door to raid the property while the owner was out.

But instead of finding an illicit drugs operation, the officers discovered nothing more sinister than a wood-burning stove.

The heat source police regarded as highly suspicious was simply a stove used to warm the garage workshop where Mr Rowe restores cars in his spare time.

Not surprisingly Mr Rowe was furious when he returned home to find the damaged door and the warrant, which had been posted through his letterbox without an apology.

"I find it quite disturbing that Wild West Yorkshire Police can do what they want. I think it is disgraceful, I didn't think the police would treat anyone like this without good reason," he said.

"My dad was a police officer for 40 years and he's disgusted about this."

College technician Mr Rowe, 41, who has no previous convictions, added:"I think it"s a pretty poor way for them to behave given that I'm not the sort of person who's known to the police."

Commenting on the damage, he said:"There was a big hole in the door which was large enough to get your arm through, the hinges were bent, there were bits of wood on the floor and one of my plant pots was broken.

"There was a brush and shovel right by the door so, if they'd had any compassion, they would have at least swept up the mess."

Mr Rowe went to his local police station in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, to complain and spoke to the policewoman who applied for the warrant. She said a police helicopter "had noted the heat source from my home."

It appears Mr Rowe's sensible crime prevention measures may have also heightened the police's suspicions.

"She said they sent a patrol to my house and found I had bars on the windows at the back. That's to prevent burglary - I don't think it's excessive.

"I've been given a form to claim compensation and I hope the police will pay for the damage."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed officers executed a drugs warrant at 9.45 am last Friday. "During the execution of the warrant a door to an external building was forced. Officers located no drugs and arrangements were made for the door to be left secure.

"No entry was made by officers into the main house itself. It is standard policy that we will pay for repairs in such circumstances and we would be happy to discuss any concerns Mr Rowe has."

Mr Rowe shares the house with wife Beth, a 40-year-old health visitor. The door has cost £200 to repair and he has had to take time off work because of the police raid.

He said he had taken a car restoration course and enjoyed doing DIY jobs in the workshop at the back of the garage. Mr Rowe said police sent to investigate his premises claimed they could smell cannabis at the back.

They were also suspicious that he had bars on the windows, which were painted so no one could see inside.

"That"s because I have expensive tools in there and it's a sensible crime prevention measure," he said.

"I was astonished they carried out this raid, I don't see how they had sufficient evidence to get a search warrant." (Wood Burning Stove)

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