DARREN BROADBENT DEATH: Bungled robbery cost Chesterfield drug dealer his life

A Chesterfield drug dealer was stabbed to death while committing a robbery which his friend and fellow dealer organised to repay a £50 debt.
The Thorntree Court flats on Birchwood Crescent in Grangewood where Darren Broadbents body was found on the morning of Monday, August 1.The Thorntree Court flats on Birchwood Crescent in Grangewood where Darren Broadbents body was found on the morning of Monday, August 1.
The Thorntree Court flats on Birchwood Crescent in Grangewood where Darren Broadbents body was found on the morning of Monday, August 1.

Darren Broadbent, 35, of Grindlow Avenue, Boythorpe, died after attempting to rob two other dealers who had come to Chesterfield from Sheffield to sell drugs, a court heard.

The robbery was the brainchild of Darren’s fellow dealer, Susan Shaw, 45, of Thorntree Court, Grangewood, who was sentenced on Monday to six years in prison for conspiracy to commit robbery.

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Originally interviewed as a witness, Shaw later admitted sending a text message to Mr Broadbent suggesting the robbery.

Sue Shaw, 45, was sentenced to six years for conspiracy to commit robbery.Sue Shaw, 45, was sentenced to six years for conspiracy to commit robbery.
Sue Shaw, 45, was sentenced to six years for conspiracy to commit robbery.

In the text, Shaw wrote: “Dazza - got a really good graft. Some brown and white in the flat tonight. Could you get a lad you could trust?”

As a result, at 6.30am on the morning of Monday August 1, Darren Broadbent turned up at the flat with golf clubs, a mask, knuckle dusters and a crowbar.

Shaw - who was living at the flat at the time - had told him the dealers would have between £800-£1000 worth of drugs or money with them.

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Mr Broadbent broke down two doors leading to the flat’s living room but in an ensuing struggle was fatally wounded, it emerged at Nottingham Crown Court.

Mr Broadbent was found dead at a flat on Birchwood Crescent, Chesterfield on August 1Mr Broadbent was found dead at a flat on Birchwood Crescent, Chesterfield on August 1
Mr Broadbent was found dead at a flat on Birchwood Crescent, Chesterfield on August 1

In September, murder charges against two Sheffield men - Jaiden Browne-Evans, 18, and a 15-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons - were dropped.

Judge Gregory Dickinson said that prosecution was dropped as it could not be proved who wielded the knife and inflicted the harm.

He added that it was also the view of the prosecution that it would be impossible to counter arguments of self-defence in this case.

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Toxicology reports found, that at the time of his death, Mr Broadbent had seven to 14 times the lethal dose of amphetamine in his system - a possible factor in his determination to gain entry to the flat.

Thorntree Court, Grangewood, Chesterfield.Thorntree Court, Grangewood, Chesterfield.
Thorntree Court, Grangewood, Chesterfield.

In passing sentence on Shaw, Judge Dickinson told her: “You set in chain this terrible sequence of events. You started it.

“You wanted to clear your debt with Mr Broadbent and were also hoping for a share of the money or drugs as well.

“In telling him to bring back up, it is clear you anticipated violence and you knew there was a knife in the flat that was being used to cut the drugs.

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“While you may have had a last minute change of heart about the plan - leading you to leave the door locked - you certainly did nothing to stop it.

Flowers left at Thorntree Court.Flowers left at Thorntree Court.
Flowers left at Thorntree Court.

“However, I do believe that you are remorseful and that you fully accept your responsibility for what happened.

“You are also given credit for entering a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity.”

In court, it was revealed Shaw had a host of previous convictions for ‘low-level dishonesty’ as well as more serious drug crimes.

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This included a sentence of 32 months for possession with intent to supply class A drugs from May 2013.

Addressing members of Mr Broadbent’s family as well as relatives of Shaw, the Judge said: “May I say I am so sorry for all of you who have been affected by this case. It just goes to show once again the devastating impact drugs can have on people’s lives.”

Shaw was also sentenced to six months (concurrent) for stealing 14 Xbox games worth more than £300 from BHS in Chesterfield on July 24.