Harmony restored in residential property as drug dealing hub closed by officers

The closure of the address, which forms part of a wider residential property on Knutsford Walk, Macclesfield, was granted by Warrington Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 25 February 2026.

The order was secured after officers presented the court with substantial evidence of anti‑social behaviour and the dealing of Class A drugs — namely heroin and crack cocaine — at the property.

The court heard that in 2025, officers from Merseyside Police discovered mobile phone evidence linking the occupants to the sale of illegal drugs. It was also heard that one of the occupants had been dealing drugs from the address on behalf of a county lines gang.

During searches, officers recovered a large quantity of cocaine and heroin, nearly £7,000 in cash, and several mobile phones.

As a result of the investigation, one of the property’s occupants, a 37‑year‑old woman, was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs (heroin and cocaine) and two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs (heroin and cocaine).

Following her arrest, the address continued to be used as a base for drug use, with high levels of foot traffic to and from the property at all hours.

The second tenant, a 39‑year‑old man, was also observed dealing drugs, using a neighbour’s balcony to exchange items with a constant flow of visitors on the ground floor.

Alongside drug‑related activity, residents in the wider complex reported further incidents of criminal damage, anti‑social behaviour, and threatening conduct — including an incident in which one of the occupants wrote derogatory phrases on a neighbour’s door using makeup.

As a result, the address has now been boarded up by officers fro three months, with the remaining occupant required to find alternative accommodation.

The closure order will remain in place for three months. During this period, nobody — including the tenants — is allowed to enter the premises. Anyone who does so will be committing a criminal offence and may be arrested or face a significant fine.

Police Sergeant Matthew Bassirat, of Macclesfield's Neighbourhood Team, said:

“The property and its occupants have been a persistent drain on police resources and a blight on the lives of residents for the best part of a decade. With that in mind, I am very pleased to see that this property — which has caused so much disruption — has now been closed down and will remain closed for the next three months.

“I hope that now one occupant is behind bars and the second has been ordered to leave the property for the foreseeable future, the residents in this complex can rest easier knowing their lives will no longer be affected by the actions of two individuals who simply do not know how to behave in a neighbourly manner.

“It was recently announced that Cheshire Constabulary has surpassed 100 years’ worth of preventative orders being issued force‑wide, and closure orders are just one of the ways Cheshire Police can take proactive action against those who cause fear, harm, and misery to residents.”