A cafe owner threatened by an addict with a syringe says drug users are damaging Wrexham businesses by driving customers away.
Lewis Farrier, who runs the Vasco da Gama coffee shop in Lord Street and was confronted by William Mcard at the back of the premises in July, said he feared for his life when the addict brandished the needle in his face and shouted: “I will stab you.”
The 40-year-old dad of three, who has run the business for almost four years, said: “When I looked behind the shop, I saw about six or seven people doing drugs.
“I said to them: ‘Come on guys, this is private land. Can you move?’
“A girl in the group became very angry and one of the guys came at with me a needle and threatened me with it. It was in my face.
“I think he should have got three years for what he did. I feared for my life. I was worried it could seriously injure or infect me with disease.”
Mr Farrier said women from a nearby travel agency started shouting at the gang, who were threatening to beat him up, before the police were called.
Mcard, who had only been released from prison the day before the offence, was jailed for 40 weeks at Mold Crown Court yesterday.
Mr Farrier claimed aggressive drug users are having an impact on trade in the area, and urged Wrexham council and the police to do more to keep them off the streets and get them help.
He said he and his staff have been threatened by suspected drug users on five previous occasions, and he has seen people on the floor outside who were apparently high on psychoactive “zombie” drugs like Spice and Black Mamba .
The cafe owner said the council and police have recently stepped up their activities, but more needs to be done.
“I am now afraid to go to the car park to get my car at 6pm,” he said.
“Families no longer want to come after 5pm because they are afraid of the dealers and drug users.
“I have lost a lot of customers and estimate I’m down perhaps £40 to £50 per day.
“It’s down to the drugs and I know it is affecting businesses on Lord Street.
“It has been getting better in recent months, but more needs to be done.”
Recently, North Wales Police have been targeting drug dealers involved in the supply of so-called New Psychoactive Substances (NPS).
Wrexham council chiefs say they have been coordinating a multi-agency “profiling” approach to tailor treatment for users, and have set up a “one stop shop” where substance users can access help and support.
