A man from Rochdale has been handed a jail sentence after thousands of pounds worth of drugs, guns, and more than 800 parrots were discovered on his land.
Back on 27 July 2023, officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called out to the address of The Pen, on Dyehouse Lane in Rochdale – which was a large plot of land with several containers, buildings, and outbuildings, and the family home of 36-year-old Zak Dearden – and proceeded to conduct searches.
This operation took a month, and more than 50 police officers were used to successfully complete the search of the land and all buildings.
Dearden was originally arrested, charged, and remanded for a drugs offence, but after officers received some intelligence that he had guns at his home address, and this is when searches began – with Operation Greyhound commencing in July 2023.
The Pen site on Dyehouse Lane in Rochdale, where Zak Dearden lived / Credit: GMP
Over the next four weeks, the search of the buildings resulted in drugs, firearms, and chemicals which were believed to be used in the manufacture and production of drugs, being seized from the property.
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Five firearms with ammunition, and drugs including 10kg of amphetamines with a street value of £100,000, 99g of cannabis oil with a street value of £12,884, £57,000 worth of cannabis and £4,685 worth of cocaine, were all recovered from the property site in total.
As Dearden also ran a pet shop with his father selling exotic birds, officers found several hundred different animals including dogs, peacocks, parrots, mink, ferrets, ducks, Koi Carp, and a bull at the address, and at one count, there were even more than 800 parrots in separate outbuildings.
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#JAILED | A man has been jailed for 10 years after officers discovered drugs, guns, ammunition and exotic birds on land in Rochdale.
Zak Dearden pleaded guilty to 13 counts including possession of guns, ammunition and drug supply.
All the animals, including the 800 parrots, were left in the care of Dearden’s father after searches.
Dearden pleaded guilty to 13 counts, including but not limited to, the possession of guns, ammunition, possession of drugs, being concerned in drug supply, and drug manufacture.
The 36-year-old appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court last week, and after pleading guilty, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Featured Image – GMP
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Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Emily Sergeant -
14th October 2024 
