Sports Calendar

Cleveland Police said they had acted in good faith but have now apologised for the error and said Mrs Keen and her family have nothing to do with criminal activity.

Speaking from the house Mrs Keen's son, Paul, said: “It was 6.20am and at first she thought it was someone trying to break in next door but then she heard loud footsteps coming up the stairs.

“There were about five of them in her bedroom and they wouldn’t let her out for about half an hour and then they didn’t let her ring anyone for two hours. They searched the house top to bottom.

“My sister was sleeping here as well and she ran out of her bedroom naked but they wouldn’t let her see mum.

“She is 81 next month and we had to have the doctor out to see her yesterday, she was very traumatised but has calmed down now.”

Her daughter, Margaret Keen, added: “The police were very apologetic and have had the door repaired but at the end of the day why did they go there in the first place.

“They say the raids were the result of a year-long operation so they’ve had plenty of time to find out there were no drug dealers or Jamaicans at my mam’s house.

“As soon as they broke in they must have realised it was wrong but they stayed there for ages and kept my mam and Sandra in their bedrooms.

“It was very traumatic and the whole family is upset and angry that it was allowed to happen. It is all well and good apologising, and we accept that, but at the end of the day it should never have happened.

“We will be lodging an official complaint about what happened and where this so-called intelligence came from”.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said today: “Acting on intelligence we carried out the raids in good faith.

“We want to sincerely apologise to Mrs Keen for the disturbance. An officer has been round to see the family with flowers and to say sorry and we had the door repaired as quickly as we could.

“We accept the residents at the address have nothing to do with criminal activity.”

Eight people have been charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs following the nationwide raids led by Cleveland Police and others are still being questioned by detectives.

Times Recommends

• A vicar’s wife: ‘There is no one to fight for us’
• Every little helps at the supermarket
• Ugg or Fitflop? The battle of the boots