Drug-bust blunder followed bya bloomer

POLICE raided a woman’s house in a drug bust – even though their target had left two years ago.

They then sent flowers to the woman by way of apology – with the wrong name on them.

Naomi Tikva, 25, was stunned to come home in Sycamore Avenue, Huddersfield, and find her front door had been kicked in by police looking for a suspected drug dealer who was no longer at the property.

And to add insult to injury, when a senior officer visited her bearing flowers as an apology they were addressed to “Laura”.

Officers searched the property looking for the former tenant before discovering a letter that showed Ms Tikva was the current occupier.

The incident happened at 7.30am on Tuesday, just minutes after Ms Tikva had left for work.

After boarding up the gap and leaving her front door in the hall the police left, later informing her that she would have to replace the door and then invoice them.

Ms Tikva, who has lived in the house for six months, said: “It’s absolutely devastating. I don’t have the money to pay upfront for a new door.

“The woman they were looking for hasn’t been here for two years. It wouldn’t take much to find out that I’m the person who lives here now – I pay my council tax and all the bills are addressed to me.”

West Yorkshire Police have apologised and a spokesman said: “Checks are made prior to any operation and are based on intelligence gathered. However, on this occasion, the target had moved from the property.

“A senior officer personally visited the occupant yesterday to apologise for any distress caused and will be working with them over repair to any damage.”