Tributes to Hither Green ‘burglar’ Henry Vincent torn down and put back up

Tributes left to a suspected burglar who died after a struggle with a pensioner have been torn down and put back up and torn down again.

Overnight, balloons were burst, cards soiled and flowers were left ruined on the pavement outside the home of Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, in Hither Green, southeast London.

Later, several women arrived and began re-attaching tributes to the fence but, within minutes, they were torn down again.

Police were called to Mr Osborn-Brooks’ house in the early hours of 4 April following reports of a burglary and found Henry Vincent, 37, collapsed nearby with stab wounds.

Mr Osborn-Brooks was arrested as a result of the death and held on suspicion of murder but has been released and told he will face no further action.

The damage to the makeshift shrine comes as Vincent’s body was released back to his family by a coroner, and an inquest into the death was opened.

The display of tributes opposite the pensioner’s home was thought to have been put up by family and friends of Vincent.

Elvina Lee, who said she was Vincent’s first cousin, described whoever pulled down the tributes as “scum” and called Mr Osborn-Brooks a “murderer” and a “lowlife”.

After Ms Lee was one of those who replaced it, the whole memorial was promptly torn down again by a man who called it an “insult”. Referring to the tributes, he added: “These need burning.”

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The Met Police said its officers were not involved in taking any of the display down.

Talking about the shrine, Hither Green resident Theresa Webb, 43, said earlier: “It was inappropriate, poor taste really.

“You’re thinking ‘How long will it be up there?’ I’m relieved it’s down. There was 101 bouquets down there.”

A resident who gave his name only as Peter said: “I wouldn’t want them on my wall, anyway, put it like that.

“They were climbing the fence and everything yesterday. Will he ever be able to come back and live here? I doubt it. It’s sad.”

Nikita Hill, 39, who lives nearby, said: “I don’t think they should have put it outside his home. Maybe they could have done it further away. But he’s got loved ones and family too so I understand why they did it.”

The Met said that on the night of the incident one suspect, armed with a screwdriver, forced the homeowner into his kitchen when he discovered them, while his accomplice went upstairs.

A struggle is believed to have followed and the intruder was stabbed in the upper body but it is not clear what object was used to inflict the fatal blow.

A witness said an accomplice dragged Vincent towards a van before he then fled.

Police have named 28-year-old Billy Jeeves as wanted in connection with the alleged burglary and want to hear from anyone who may have seen the van with the registration GU52 AXT.

Jeeves’ white Vauxhall Astra van was discovered burnt out and destroyed in Orpington, Kent, on Saturday.

The opening of an inquest at Southwark Coroner’s Court heard that Vincent, from Lime Road in Swanley, Kent, was jobless and single at the time he died at University Hospital Lewisham.

The Met Police’s Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding told the court: “The facts are that on Wednesday April 4, two males including Henry Vincent entered a residential address at about 12.40am whilst committing a burglary.

“During this burglary the male resident stabbed Henry Vincent, that ultimately led to his death.”

Several of Vincent’s relatives were in court. The coroner told them: “I know you are having a dreadful time, I am releasing the body to you.”

(c) Sky News 2018: Tributes to Hither Green ‘burglar’ Henry Vincent torn down and put back up