Drug abuse is rife on a suburban Leeds street with heroin and crack addicts knocking on doors begging for money and lighting up their crack pipes in broad daylight, according to an embattled couple.
It’s torture for recovering drug addicts Simon and Sarah Scott who kicked their heroin habit during the pandemic. The married couple from Seacroft have spoken of the horrors of having to see it happen outside their window regularly throughout the day and coming face-to-face with an addict who won’t stop nagging them for drug money.
Simon and Sarah, who are 47 and 36, respectively, live in a council flat in Kentmere Crescent with their French Bulldog Nelly. They depend on benefits and foodbanks to survive. They credit their road to recovery on the isolation of the pandemic and having to provide a safe home to their pooch.
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In the darkest days of addiction, they’ve said they felt like they were “cheating” the foodbanks as they’d receive money through benefits but would spend it all on drugs. The guilt weighed heavily on their shoulders.
They’ve now opened up about how “sick and angry” it makes them feel to have to see the drug abuse with multiple viewings every day from the sofa in their living room.
One particular drug abuser knocks on their door and begs for cash. He knows about their cash jar which they use to save up money to provide for their dog or grocery shopping. Simon says they prey on Sarah, who he says is more of a soft touch, begging for initially a small amount like £5, then £20 and as much as £70.
Simon, who is originally from Wakefield, said: “There’s people still using on our street and they’re always trying to ask for money. We lend people money and we never get it back. It’s like we’re still using!
“It’s our money that’s going on their drugs, it’s annoying. There’s one guy who scores rights outside our window. He doesn’t ask me, he asks her. She’s too vulnerable and too easy to say yes.”
Sarah, originally from Sunderland, said: “I’ve got to see it every day. It makes me feel sick and it makes me angry. We got better so why can’t they?”
Simon added: “It’s annoying, I’ve been there but I’m worried about her mental health. He waits until I’ve gone to bed and picks on her, he knocks on the door and asks her to lend him money.”
Simon said the drug abuser is so brazen with his addiction that he begs for the money in front of his own wife, who he then turns around and denies it to as soon as he’s got what he wants.
'Completely unacceptable,' say police
West Yorkshire Police Inspector Chantel Patrick, who heads the Leeds East Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Drug use and associated anti-social behaviour that impacts on the lives of residents is completely unacceptable and is something we are continuing to work closely alongside our partner agencies to tackle.
“We take all reports of anti-social behaviour seriously and work in partnership with Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team to identify those responsible and take appropriate action using a range of criminal and civil measures.
“We also continue to mount operations to target those involved in the supply of drugs and encourage anyone who has who has suspicions about people involved in drug dealing in their area to contact us directly or pass on any information anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers.”
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “We work closely with West Yorkshire Police and other partner agencies in response to any complaints of anti-social behaviour across Leeds and will always act quickly to resolve any issues.”
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