A NUMBER of disturbing crimes were reported on by the Warrington Guardian this month.

We take a look back at some of these frightening incidents reported to police in the town over the past few weeks.

Here are nine such incidents reported on in Warrington during March:

Breaking and entering after huge cannabis factory dismantled

A HUGE cannabis farm was discovered in the town centre, with police seizing 720 plants.

It followed a raid at a closed premises on Barbauld Street on the morning of Tuesday, March 19, with the police helicopter also deployed.

No arrests have been made in connection to the cannabis farm – but Cheshire Police has warned people to stay away from the property after arresting nine trying to enter.

They also ensured people that there were no drugs or equipment left on the property, to discourage anyone looking for anything left behind after the raid.

Trio charged with wounding man in a Warrington hotel

THREE people were charged with wounding a man at a hotel in Warrington.

The assault was reported to have occurred at Pattens Arms Hotel, opposite Warrington Bank Quay train station on Saturday, March 16.

It was alleged that the trio did so with intent to cause bodily harm and the assault was also reported to have involved the use of weapons.

Three suspects have all been charged with wounding with intent and false imprisonment in connection with the incident, and they are due to appear before the crown court next month.

Gang flee empty-handed after being caught in the act stealing motorbike

FOOTAGE was captured of a gang attempting to steal a motorbike in Birchwood before fleeing the scene and leaving behind their bikes and wire cutters.

At 2.15am on Sunday, March 17, police received reports of the theft of a motorbike in Hamnett Court.

CCTV provided showed four men around the bike, attempting to start it.

Police confirmed the bike was recovered and that enquires are ongoing.

Woman kicked in the face by teens in terrifying broad daylight robbery

A WOMAN was injured after being kicked in the face by armed teens in a terrifying park robbery.

At around 2.29pm on Monday, March 11, Cheshire Police officers responded to reports of an armed robbery in Sankey Valley Park.

A 41-year-old woman was approached by two teenage boys, who threatened her with a knife and demanded her possessions.

When she refused, one of the boys kicked her in the face, causing ‘considerable facial bruising’, while both fled the scene.

Man arrested after two people ‘stabbed’ in football pitch in Appleton

A MAN was arrested after two people were reportedly stabbed in Appleton.

Police were called to a football pitch at Broomfields Leisure Centre at around 9.35pm on Monday, March 11, following reports of an altercation.

Officers found that two men had been injured, with these injuries believed to have been caused by a screwdriver.

Police confirmed that a 27-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the incident.

Six arrested as armed police attend after ‘gun sighting’

ARMED police were dispatched to Longford following reports of a suspected sighting of a gun.

Six people were arrested on Tuesday, March 19, Cheshire Police confirmed after plain-clothed officers in an unmarked car on patrol reportedly saw a person in a car that they believed was in possession of a black handgun.

The car was located nearby on Poole Avenue, with a large police presence reported in the area.

Cheshire Police says six people were arrested ‘in relation to a number of offences’, with each released on conditional bail.

Two women arrested after brothel raids at massage parlours

TWO suspected brothels operating out of massage parlours were raided by police in Warrington and Widnes.

Officers from Cheshire Police’s Northern Exploitation Team conducted two warrants on Monday, March 4, at Genki Health Massage, on Lovely Lane in Bewsey, and Aura Health Massage, on Albert Road in Widnes.

Officers received a number of reports of vulnerable women being sexually exploited at the massage parlours.

Two women were arrested, one at each parlour, on suspicion of brothel and modern slavery offences, before being released on bail.

Armed police attend park after ‘gunshot’ sound heard

ARMED police officers were dispatched to Sankey Valley Park on Tuesday, March 5.

The force helicopter was also spotted circling, with many residents in the area hearing it for around half an hour.

This came after Cheshire Police received reports that residents had heard a loud bang in the park – which they believed to be a gunshot – at around 3.10pm.

Officers entered the park via Hesketh Street North in Sankey Bridges, but nothing suspicious was found, and there are no reports that anyone was injured.

Packages thrown from van in dramatic M56 chase ending at airport

A MAN has been charged after a police chase during which a number of drug packages were thrown from a van.

At around 5.30pm on Tuesday, March 5, officers attempted to stop a white Mercedes Sprinter van on the M56 at Stretton, but the vehicle failed to stop and made off at speed.

Officers pursued the vehicle as it travelled along the motorway to Manchester Airport, with a large quantity of heroin thrown from the vehicle.

The van subsequently came to a stop after careering through a barrier onto a multi-storey car park at the airport, with the driver arrested after making off on foot.