A thief broke into a police employee’s home hours after being released from prison – then denied his actions arguing: “I’m a distraction burglar”.
Daniel Broadwell snuck into the Canterbury flat while Ian Irwin slept, making off with the man’s work-issued laptop, the city’s crown court has heard.
Prosecuting, Harriet Lewis said it was only when Mr Irwin woke on the morning of January 15, 2025, that he realised he had been burgled.
“The victim noticed that his work laptop had been removed from its holder. He then contacted police to report the incident,” said Ms Lewis.
The court heard on Friday (July 11) that DNA evidence collected from the property at Artillery Gardens placed Broadwell at the scene of the crime.
But when challenged during police interview, the now 43-year-old denied having attended the address, insisting: “It doesn’t sound like me, I’m not a creeper, I’m more of a distraction burglar.”
The court heard how, weeks earlier on November 2, Broadwell, of Forstal Road, Herne Bay, had stolen cans of beer from a Londis convenience store in Margate.
Ms Lewis explained how, four days later, he also attempted to swipe a bottle of Jack Daniel’s from the town’s Morrisons supermarket before being apprehended by police.
“It doesn’t sound like me, I’m not a creeper, I’m more of a distraction burglar…”
Then, during what the judge described as a “mental health crisis” on November 25, Broadwell arrived at QEQM Hospital carrying a kitchen knife in a plastic bag.
Mitigating, Phil Rowley explained that around the time of the offending, his client was battling homelessness and alcohol dependency.
“The sadness is, before his most recent remand in custody, there were some signs of progress being made,” said Mr Rowley.
“He had secured a place to live, and, for the first time in his adult life, had begun working.
“While in prison, he has been working to rehabilitate himself and has started taking yoga classes.”
Broadwell – who has 36 convictions for 71 offences – appeared in the dock wearing a dark blue t-shirt, and smiled at his partner in the public gallery as proceedings got underway.
Judge Nicholas Worsley KC addressed him directly as he passed sentence.
“You have an appalling record, particularly for dishonesty,” he said.
“I have the greatest sympathy for the challenges you have faced, but lots of other people also have trauma in their background and don’t go on to offend.
“On the very day you were released from custody, you broke into someone’s home, taking his work laptop.
“This sort of conduct is simply unacceptable”.
Because Broadwell is a repeat burglary offender, he qualified for a minimum three-year sentence for that offence.
However, having pleaded guilty to al four charges – burglary, possession of a knife and two counts of theft, he received a reduced overall jail term of two years, 11 months and 14 days.
