Police stand by as dead burglar’s family erect ‘disgraceful’ tribute ... and locals tear it down
POLICE stood by as a row broke out after floral tributes to a dead burglar were left outside the home of the pensioner arrested over his death.
The tributes to Henry Vincent, a career criminal who was killed during a botched burglary at the home of 78-year-old Richard Osborn-brooks, began appearing on Monday.
Since then, a battle has ensued over whether the impromptu memorial is appropriate, with flowers continually put up by friends of Vincent, only for them to be torn down by neighbours of the pensioner. Tributes from the burglar’s girlfriend and family described Vincent as having a “heart of gold” and saying he was “too good to walk the Earth”. Kayleigh Taylor, 23, an NHS worker, said: “That is a really disgraceful display. They should not have this outside the house.” Others called it an “insult” to Mr Osborn-brooks.
The flowers were attached to a fence just 20yd from the boarded-up home of the pensioner, who is staying in a different location for his own safety.
Shortly after the first tribute went up, a vigilante tore it down, saying: “When I heard that the family of Henry Vincent... had placed flowers on the road where he died, I was extremely furious. So I just drove to south London, to the area to see it myself.”
On Tuesday afternoon, Vincent’s loved ones returned to reattach the mementos opposite the property on South Park Crescent, Hither Green.
Elvina Lee, who said she was Vincent’s first cousin, called whoever pulled the tributes down “scum”. She said: “This is the best place for these flowers to be. I don’t know what’s wrong with these people [who dismantled them]... I think they’re scum.”
She said of pensioner Richard Osbornbrooks: “He’s a coward – he won’t come out when we’re here. When other people die they put flowers, why can’t we? We’re not allowed because we’re gipsies. Henry was murdered, the man [sic] did it should be tried.” Regarding Vincent she said: “He was like a brother to me, he loved his family and his three babies. He wasn’t a murderer, he wasn’t a rapist, they’re putting [sic] him as a monster.”
Twenty minutes later, an unknown man ripped the tributes down, calling the memorial an “insult” to Mr Osbornbrooks. Theresa Webb, 43, a local resident, said of the shrine: “It was inappropriate, poor taste really. I’m relieved it’s down. You’re thinking ‘how long will it be up there?’ There was 101 bouquets down there.”
The flowers were re-erected again by the family of Vincent but were torn down for a third time late last night.
A Scotland Yard spokesperson said no public order offences were committed. Yesterday evening, six police officers were seen positioned outside Mr Osborn-brooks’ home.