The woman, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, became too afraid to cook or even shower after criminals invaded her home and used it for dealing and storing drugs.
"When you're on drugs you feel so low that you feel like these people are doing you a favour. You don't realise that these people are preying on you because you're so vulnerable," says Sarah."For months I had no sleep because these people were in my home. I couldn't go into the kitchen and make a cup of tea."Sarah was afraid they'd hurt her, but she also didn't want to let them out of her sight in case they stashed weapons or drugs.
"I couldn't tell my family I was using drugs again because I didn't want them to be disappointed. So there was no way out." "It's hard, that support system's gone. If I'm short of money I can't just turn around to my neighbour or my best mate and say, 'can you lend me a tenner till pay day?'"Sarah, whose name Sky News has changed to protect her identity, lived in fear in her own home after it was taken over by criminals
"People are petrified they will lose their homes, that they may be made homeless, so that puts that fear of reporting it to the landlord," says Detective Superintendent Chris Packer of Greater Manchester Police."But also over time, criminal offences are taking place, so they fear their own culpability in that."