Stanway resident claims drug issues are rising in the town

The Lakelands estate resident, whose name has been withheld, says in the past month she has seen three shocking drug-related incidents in Stanway and fears things are worsening.

The latest figures released by Essex Police show there were 58 crimes reported to the force involving illicit drugs in the Colchester borough in June, up by three from the month prior.

The mother, who moved to Stanway from south London in 2016, claims there is a “big drugs problem” in Stanway.

Concerns - Stanway Picture: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

“I do not feel safe and in the past month things seem to have got worse,” she said.

“I went to the BP garage on London Road and there was a man slumped by the ATM machine who, as I passed him, reached his arm out to me and what I saw scared me so much.

“His eyes were popping out of his head and his jaw was almost contorted, it was like someone possessed.

“He was becoming more and more agitated and began howling and screaming.”

The concerned resident, who purchased her house in Stanway at a cost in excess of £300,000, added it wasn’t the first incident like this she had seen in recent weeks.

Another alarming situation she witnessed involved a man “who looked dead” in the playground next to Costa, in Tollgate Centre Shopping Park.

Shopping park - the playground in Tollgate Picture: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

And a week before that, she claims seven police officers had to restrain a woman who had “taken drugs” and threatened to stab her.

The news came as a surprise to Stanway councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell, however, who strenuously argued the area is a safe place for all.

“I would ask this resident to please contact me and I will support her and talk to the police to raise any issues,” she said.

“Stanway is a safe place. I just urge anybody who has concerns to contact me.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: "The number of possession of drugs offences and trafficking of drugs offences have both had year on year drops in Colchester.

"We know drug-related crime and antisocial behaviour impacts on people, not only victims, but those who witness it, and we have teams in place in Colchester such as our Op Raptor and Disruptor teams to tackle these issues. 

"Our proactive work continues, and we are determined to drive those numbers down even further."