In a raid at dawn, police officers broke down the door of the pastry shop in the house of Haribo sweets and licorice.
Behind Bertie Bassett’s smiling licorice mascot and the purple dinosaur lay an alleged cannabis farm.
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Pontefract in West Yorkshire has become home to a network of drug dens, locals claimCredit: NB PRESS LTD
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Police busted a record £2.6m cannabis farm in the city last yearCredit: West Yorkshire Police
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Darren Rawlson, 52, a local taxi driver, thinks it’s time to bulldoze the worst parts of the cityCredit: NB PRESS LTD
Locals claim that this is just one of many junkies that have sprung up in Pontrefact, West Yorkshire, which boasts a rich candy-making tradition.
West Yorkshire Police busted a £2.6 million marijuana farm last April after raiding a warehouse.
But the somewhat forgotten town is now on the rise and has been dryly nicknamed ‘Ponte Carlo’ for its glitzy new nightlife and influx of money.
Wakefield Council has invested close to £30m in the town in regeneration projects.
The town boasts its own racecourse, Norman castle, bustling market and lively nightlife with the new Ropergate Run pubs following the development of new luxury bars.
However, locals are divided over whether Pontrefact has turned from its seedy past.
Taxi driver Darren Rawlston, 52, said: “It’s great that people are coming from all over Yorkshire.
“They go to the Ropergate Run, which is a lot of fun.
“Pontefract has now become a destination in its own right, which was never the case in the past.
“You see new faces and it’s different. I really love living here in Pontefract. It has so much history and it’s a very picturesque place.”
We live in a famous UK seaside resort where TV stars live – but now it’s a disgusting and depressing dump crawling with RATS
Drug dens
However, the city is still plagued by theft, robbery and drunken violence.
Polishing his Acorn taxi on a council estate near the city centre, the father-of-one added: “It has its bottom.
“There are cannabis farms and here on this property there are a lot of Class A drugs for sale.
“And that brings anti-social behavior and theft because people have to pay for it.
“But I think the council will soon bulldoze some of the high-rises, which is good because they are an eyesore.
“Pontefract is definitely on the rise.”
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The arrest of the cannabis farm was the biggest single seizure in the history of West Yorkshire PoliceCredit: West Yorkshire Police
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The crime rate in Pontefract is believed to be twice the national averageCredit: NB PRESS LTD
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The town boasts a proud medieval history – and is home to a famous alehouseCredit: NB PRESS LTD
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Recent investment has led to the city being jokingly dubbed ‘Ponte Carlo’ – after the Mediterranean city known for its casinosCredit: Getty
Horsefair Flats estates are believed to be home to drug dens with wrappers of heroin and crack cocaine selling for as little as £10.
A shop worker who lives on the property said: “There are drug dens here.
“You hear a lot of people going into apartments and knocking on the door and then they’re gone for a few minutes.
“There are also cannabis farms. The council has spent money, but there are many disputes.
“I was working in a pub, and a woman grabbed me and pulled me over the bar because I was serving too slowly.
It’s not exactly Monte Carlo – it’s still pretty gloomy
John Hargrave
“It can be quite angry, especially when it’s racing. I think some of it is fueled by drugs like cocaine.
“However, it is still a good place to live.
“The city is very nice and there are good places to go out, but I don’t think it’s much better.
“It’s still only Pontefract, not Monte Carlo, although the moniker Ponte Carlo is funny.”
‘Pretty Dark’
Former miner John Hargrave, 76, said: “It’s just a Northern joke to call it Ponte Carlo.
“It’s not quite Monte Carlo – it’s still pretty gloomy.”
The Newsagents kiosk is located next door to the Horsefair estate and has been run by father-of-four Nariman Taha for several years.
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Shop owner Nariman Taha, 43, thinks the city is getting worseCredit: NB PRESS LTD
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City streets reveal boarded up buildings and shuttered businessesCredit: NB PRESS LTD
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Pontefract is the center of the UK candy industryCredit: NB PRESS LTD
Speaking from behind his counter, the owner, 43, said: “I think it’s getting worse, not better.
“I noticed in the last four to five months that everything is quieter.
“I think people are struggling and don’t have a lot of money to spend.
“We don’t see a lot of problems here, but there is the odd vandalism and drug problem in town.
“There are rumors of many cannabis farms and people sell a lot of drugs here.”
I don’t think the city is coming back – I think it’s going backwards
Neil Rowbotham
Accountant Umayr Hanif was jailed for six years at Leeds Crown Court in April for running a drugs operation in the county.
He was stopped twice by police in Pontefract and caught with more than £156,000 worth of crack, cocaine and heroin.
The city’s crime rate is believed to be twice the national average. Just a few weeks ago, a man was attacked by three thugs outside the Red Lion pub in the city.
A few months ago, two people were attacked in front of the popular Big Fellas nightclub, and one man was seriously injured in a machete attack.
Luke Thompson, 25, died last year after being punched in a fight.
He fell on the road and was then hit by a car. Residents claim that there are regular drunken fights.
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Resident Neil Rowbottham, 58, is skeptical about the impact the council’s investment has had Credit: NB PRESS LTD
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Wakefield Council invests more than £30m in bid to regenerate town Credit: NB PRESS LTD
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Parts of Pontefract are also at risk of vandalismCredit: NB PRESS LTD
Investment hope
Unemployed carriage driver Neil Rowbotham, 58, said: “I don’t think the city is coming back – I think it’s going backwards.
“There are fights and everything. I was in M&S the other day and a thief grabbed a steak and just walked out.
– Nobody did anything.
Neil, who used to play for Featherstone Rovers rugby league reserve team, added: “The council have spent a lot of money to be fair.
“But I’m not sure how much of a difference it makes.”
We have everything here
Darren Rawlston
Unemployed David Hayes, 57, said: “I think the town is great.
“The Christmas decorations look great and the shopping is very good, especially when the market is open.”
The town, which dates back to Saxon times, boasts some famous faces including Friends and Cold Feet actress Helen Baxendale, rugby league star Rob Burrow who lost his battle for MND this year and the late Labor politician Barbara Castle.
The Haribo factory is located in the center of town and is believed to have been growing licorice here since the 17th century with the famous Pontefract cakes.
There is also the infamous poltergeist. Pontefract’s black monk allegedly terrorized the family who lived in the house in the 1960s.
The most violent haunting in Europe reportedly took place at 30 East Drive when a family living there reported being pushed, pulled and slapped by a ghost they named “Fred”.
Back at the Horsefair flats, taxi driver Darren: “You can sleep there for the night.
“It’s very popular – people come from all over to take a tour.
“We have everything here.”
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Pontefract Racecourse is a popular venue in townCredit: NB PRESS LTD
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Famous sons and daughters of the town include actress Helen Baxendale, rugby player Rob Burrow who died of MND this year and the late Labor politician Barbara CastleCredit: NB PRESS LTD
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Residents are left divided over whether the city will change things once and for allCredit: NB PRESS LTD
Mark Lynam, Wakefield Council’s corporate director for regeneration, environment and economic growth, said: “Like most towns in the UK, Pontefract is not immune to some areas of anti-social behavior and crime, which we are working with the police to tackle.
“But we are also home to Harib and the world’s only festival dedicated to licorice.
“As well as one of Britain’s most infamous castles.
And we also have an award-winning market, fantastic bars and restaurants. Not to mention one of the best sixth form colleges in the county.
“But it’s the people who make the city. And we will continue to work with them to help Pontefract to be even better.”
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education