Advance Taxi office murder

Murdered Sheffield man was serial fraudster, say police


Published Date: 13 November 2009
By Richard Marsden
A MURDERED man killed in an arson attack on a Sheffield taxi office was a serial fraudster with criminal convictions stretching back two decades, The Star can reveal.
Timothy Darby, of Langsett Road, Hillsborough, died in hospital yesterday, a week after suffering severe burns in a blaze at the Advanced Taxis office, on Abbeydale Road.

Police are examining Mr Darby's background to see if they can discover a motive for the attack.

Detectives have revealed that in the minutes before the fire broke out at 11.30pm on Bonfire Night, the 37-year-old may have been involved in a row at the taxi office.

Det Supt Colin Fisher, leading the South Yorkshire Police murder inquiry, said: "We were alerted by staff at the taxi office to a disturbance at the premises, and when officers arrived there was a fire."

He said officers did not know why Mr Darby was at the premises and said they did not believe he was an employee.

Det Supt Fisher added: "We are looking into his background to try to identify any motive for the attack and we have spoken to his family, who live in Sheffield.

"We don't know whether the attack was targeted at Mr Darby and are trying to find out why the place caught fire so quickly, and whether accelerant was used."

Mr Darby, who was unmarried and had no children, had a criminal record for dishonesty stretching back to 1989 when he was a teenager.

He had served prison terms for deception, including four years imposed in 2003, when Darby lived in Hilton Street, Town End, Barnsley.

He admitted hacking into a woman's bank account and transferring £102,000 to his own funds, and setting up an illegal fuel-selling business funded with a stolen company petrol card.

Mr Darby asked for a further 27 offences of dishonesty to be taken into consideration when sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court.

Firefighters who were called to blaze last week on Thursday November 5 were faced with 20ft flames shooting out of the top floor windows, and a fierce fire at risk of spreading to a neighbouring property.

Mr Darby was discovered on the ground behind the premises, engulfed in flames. He was treated in the specialist burns unit at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, but died yesterday morning.

Det Supt Fisher said: "We renew our appeal to anyone with information about this fire. I know there were potential witnesses on Abbeydale Road around the time of the fire and would urge anyone who was there to call the police.

"I am particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have recorded images on mobile telephones. A post mortem examination is due to take place."

* Witnesses, or anyone with information, is asked to call the incident room on 0114 296 3536 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Murdered-Sheffield-man-was-serial.5822089.jp

Five held over fatal arson
Five men have been arrested in connection with a suspected arson attack in Sheffield in which a 37-year-old man died.

Timothy Darby died after the fire at Advance Taxis, on Abbeydale Road, on the evening of November 5.

The five men, aged between 19 and 34, were arrested during dawn raids at addresses in Nether Edge and Pitsmoor.




http://www.teletext.co.uk/regionalnews/yorkshire/d7fce353482a1563845be16da8502357/Five+held+over+fatal+arson.aspx

Five arrested in dawn raids







Published Date: 01 December 2009
By Claire Lewis
FIVE men were arrested by police in dawn raids in Sheffield this morning as part of their probe into a Bonfire Night arson attack which killed a man.
Officers swooped on homes in Nether Edge and Pitsmoor and arrested five men aged between 19 and 34 on suspicion of arson.

They are being held at different police stations across the city. The raids were organised as part of the murder investigation into the fire which led to
the death of Timothy Darby, aged 37, of Langsett Road, Hillsborough. He was seriously injured when fire broke out in Advance Taxis on Abbeydale Road, Sheffield, on November 5, and died in hospital one week later.

Timothy Darby's sister, Ruth Thorpe, said today: "Thank you to all the people who have come forward so far and assisted the police with their enquiries.

"If anyone has any information that could help the police find out what happened to Tim then please contact them.

"The recent support offered to me and my family has been overwhelming and we are touched by the messages of condolence we have received.

"Tim always made time for others and will be sadly missed by those who knew him."

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/BREAKING-Five-arrested-in-dawn.5872024.jp

I've heard they're all Asians and three of them are the brothers that used to own Advance Taxis. Looks like the plan back-'fired'. Well out of order, the scum ought to be locked up and throw away the key.

Mr Daddy of these young wanabe criminals must be really proud of them tonight. I heard they were in debt to the tune of £40 000 not worth someone's life surely.

Sixth man held over fatal taxi fire in Sheffield








A SIXTH man has been arrested in connection with a suspected arson attack in Sheffield in which a man died.
Timothy Darby, 37, died after the fire at Advance Taxis, on Abbeydale Road, on November 5.

A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson.

Five men, aged between 19 and 34, who were arrested earlier this week, remain in police custody on suspicion of arson.

Mr Darby's sister, Ruth Thorpe, thanked people for their support and urged anyone with information about her brother's death to come forward.

She said: "Thank you to all the people who have come forward so far and assisted the police with their inquiries. If anyone has any information that could help the police find out what happened to Tim then please contact them.

"The recent support offered to me and my family has been overwhelming and we are touched by the messages of condolence we have received.

"Tim always made time for others and will be sadly missed by those who knew him."

Anyone with information is asked to call the South Yorkshire Police incident room on 0114 2963536 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Sixth-man-held-over-fatal.5882193.jp

Seventh arrest over taxi firm fire death
http://www.thestar.co.uk/headlines/Seventh-arrest-over-taxi-firm.5924215.jp






Published Date: 18 December 2009
POLICE have arrested a seventh man in connection with a fire at a city taxi firm which claimed the life of a Sheffield man.
A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit arson at Advanced Taxis in Abbeydale Road in November.

The man, who police say is local, is currently in custody and being questioned by officers. Timothy Darby, aged 37, of Langsett Road, Hillsborough, suffered extensive burns when the Advanced Taxis office went up in flames on Bonfire Night. He died a week later.

Six men who were arrested earlier this month will remain on police bail until mid January.

Are most of these people out working taxis now then or have the council taken them out of action. IMO they ought be kept well away from our trade till it's all sorted and only if they didn't have anything to do with the Murder.

Apart from one of the brothers who was a stood for election I don't know the others anyway, but I've not seen him either. According to the papers they are on bail but must have been suspended from working in our trade though. I agree if it is murder they are charged with but it's not so maybe we are jumping the gun here so to speak. They were arrested because of a suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson, a much lesser charge you might agree STF? Had Mr Derby survived he would also have had to answer to the conspiracy charge methinks but unfortunately things turned to tragedy.

R-I-P Tim Derby, I hope justice will be done.

Most of the lads who were arrested are working these days on cabs and allegations against them are as yet unproven so further speculation on the matter would be wrong. therefore closing this thread till any news on subject transpires.