Three men have been charged in connection with burglaries at a property in Whaley Bridge where an intruder died after being shot by the homeowner, Derbyshire Police has said.
Who has been charged
Derbyshire Police named the defendants as Jack Cooper, 22, of Sparrowpit; Reece Nadin, 20, of Horderns Road, Chapel-en-le-Frith; and Frederick Andric, 32, of Buxton Road, Chapel-en-le-Frith. All three face proceedings for burglary and have been released on bail to appear at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on 17 August.
| Defendant | Age | Address | Alleged charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Cooper | 22 | Sparrowpit | Burglary (two counts: incident night of 29–30 Apr and 1 May 2024) |
| Reece Nadin | 20 | Horderns Road, Chapel-en-le-Frith | Burglary (1 May 2024) |
| Frederick Andric | 32 | Buxton Road, Chapel-en-le-Frith | Burglary (29–30 Apr 2024) |
Background to the incident
Derbyshire Police were called to a remote property on Eccles Road in the early hours of 1 May 2024. An intruder, named by police as Marcus Smith, 19, of Chapel-en-le-Frith, was pronounced dead at the scene. A second person sustained serious injuries.
The homeowner, a man in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of murder after discharging a legally held firearm when confronted by intruders in his home. The Crown Prosecution Service has since reviewed the case and confirmed last week that the homeowner will not face criminal charges in relation to Mr Smith’s death or the serious injuries suffered by the other person on the property.
Local impact and next steps
The CPS decision to bring burglary charges against three men but not to prosecute the homeowner places the legal focus on the alleged offending by the intruders while ending the prospect of criminal proceedings against the occupier of the house.
The charges relate to burglaries at the same property on consecutive nights, the night of 29–30 April and the early hours of 1 May. All three defendants remain on bail pending their remand appearance in August.
- Incident location: Eccles Road, near Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire
- Date of fatal incident: 1 May 2024
- Court appearance: Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court, 17 August
The case raises continuing questions for residents about rural home security, the use of legally held firearms and the interaction between criminal suspects and those defending their property. The CPS and Derbyshire Police have responsibility for the charging decisions and any ongoing investigative work; further updates will be provided as court proceedings progress.
Information published by the police and the CPS forms the basis of this report.
