Family of stabbed burglar gather for his birthday to lay flowers

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.

Friends and relatives of Henry Vincent bring birthday tributes to the scene on South Park Crescent in Hither Green. Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

• READ MORE: Shrine to dead burglar created outside OAP victim’s home

Around 20 women from the travelling community arrived at South Park Crescent in Hither Green 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.

Police address friends and relatives of Henry Vincent as they bring birthday tributes to the scene on South Park Crescent in Hither Green, London. Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

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 well-wishers angry that the career criminal is being remembered in such a way, only to spring up again within days.

On Saturday afternoon, a group of around 20 women who said they were relatives 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.

Police address friends and relatives of Henry Vincent as they bring birthday tributes to the scene on South Park Crescent in Hither Green, London. Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

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

• READ MORE: Pensioner to face no further action over intruder killing

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 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 Osborn-Brooks are reportedly living in a safe house and plan to sell their property.

• READ MORE: Support pours in for London OAP who fatally wounded ‘burglar’