GRANGEWOOD DEATH: 'I just want to move - you don't feel safe here.'

A police cordon was still in place on a Chesterfield estate on Tuesday morning as police continued their investigation into a '˜suspicious' death.
Police incident on Birchwood Road in Chesterfield.Police incident on Birchwood Road in Chesterfield.
Police incident on Birchwood Road in Chesterfield.

Detectives from Chesterfield police and the East Midlands Major Crime Unit are currently investigating after the body of a man was found yesterday in a flat in Thorntree Court in Grangewood.

The grim discovery, while shocking, was perhaps not surprising to many residents who have got used to the flats being a source of trouble for the area.

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One middle-aged woman, who did not want to be named, said: “I just want to move - a load of people leave here because of how bad it is.

Police incident on Birchwood Road in Chesterfield.Police incident on Birchwood Road in Chesterfield.
Police incident on Birchwood Road in Chesterfield.

“I thought it was getting better but now this has happened - you just don’t feel safe.”

An elderly man, who had just been to the local Co-op for a newspaper, said: “I live on the estate round the back and it is wonderful there - no problems at all.

“But when I came here yesterday morning I couldn’t get through - there were police cars all over.

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“There are lots of problems in these flats - the police are out a lot.”

Police incident on Birchwood Road in Chesterfield.Police incident on Birchwood Road in Chesterfield.
Police incident on Birchwood Road in Chesterfield.

Among the well looked after houses and gardens in and around the immediate area - Thorntree Court sticks out like a sore thumb.

A group of men standing on the edge of the cordon were talking about the problems the area faces.

One said: “Even when I moved here they said it had a high level of anti-social behaviour but the police don’t want to know - you never see them.

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“Only PSCOs come who can’t do anything - they have to call for a proper copper and by the time they get here it is all over.”

As well as shock and sadness, residents expressed anger at the lack of any further statements from Derbyshire police.

Jim Rankin, 65, has lived in Thorntree Court for the last seven years.

He said: “We don’t know what has happened - the police aren’t telling us anything other than it is an ‘ongoing investigation’.”

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Yesterday, Superintendent Jim Allen from Chesterfield police, said: “We are in the very early stages of the enquiry.

“We are using our forensic teams to try to build a picture of the events that led to the man’s death and are not yet in a position to name him.”

Detectives did make an appeal for anyone with information to contact them on 101 quoting incident number 130 of August 1.

They said people can also call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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