Row escalates as flowers mark burglar’s birthday

We don’t want to cause violence, say women, escorted by police

The row over tributes laid in memory of a burglar stabbed to death in an altercation during a botched raid on a pensioner’s home has continued as crowds of relatives marked the dead man’s birthday.

Around 20 women from the travelling community arrived at South Park Crescent in Hither Green, London, to lay flowers close to the spot where Henry Vincent, 37, fell after being fatally injured in the home of 78-year-old Richard Osborn-Brooks.

Mr Osborn-Brooks was arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of Vincent on April 4 but was later told he would face no further action.

Since the incident, Vincent’s friends and family have sparked outrage among locals in the usually quiet south London neighbourhood by laying flowers and cards opposite the still boarded-up home of Mr Osborn-Brooks and his wife, Maureen.

The tributes have repeatedly been torn down by neighbours and wellwishers angry that the career criminal is being remembered in such a way, only to spring up again within days.

Yesterday afternoon, a group of around 20 women who said they were rela- tives of Vincent, arrived in the street with flowers, cards, balloons and a banner to celebrate his birthday.

They were escorted by five police officers who tried to stop them stapling the banners and balloons to the garden fences of homeowners.

Eventually the tributes were attached to the street sign itself and a lamppost.

A 37-year-old woman, who didn’t want to be named, said: “We’re here because it’s his birthday. We just want to lay flowers. We don’t want to cause any violence.”

She added: “We’re not all criminals. We don’t all do wrong.”

When asked how Vincent

We’re not all criminals. We don’t all do wrong

should be remembered, another woman said: “We all loved him.”

The group refused to respond to reports that Vincent would be honoured with a £100,000 funeral, or that the cortege would pass by Mr Osborn-Brooks’ home.

Mr and Mrs OsbornBrooks are reportedly living in a safe house and plan to sell their property.

DEATH: Relatives bring tributes to Hither Green, London, where Henry Vincent was stabbed in a botched burglary