Henry Vincent: Defiant traveller family lay MORE flowers after burglar shrine destroyed
THE defiant traveller family of burglar Henry Vincent have caused fresh fury after returning to a pensioner’s street where he died to lay more flowers and tributes for a FOURTH time - hours after they were torn down and trampled on by neighbours.
PA/Gary Stone
Vigilantes have repeatedly destroyed the shrine to career burglar Vincent – who was killed after he broke into the home of 78-year-old Richard Osborn-Brooks - in Hither Green, south east London, this week.
But each time, brazen relatives of the career criminal have returned to recreate their twisted memorial.
This morning, around a dozen more bunches of flowers were placed near the home of Mr Osborn-Brooks, who was released without charge following the 37-year-old thief’s death.
Tributes included a bright pink ribbon tied to the road sign with the words: “To my Paddy love from your girls never let you go.”
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Another card from one of his daughters read: “I love you more than anything in the world.
“I will never be ashamed to call you my daddy and you was the best one I could ask for.”
Police have remained on patrol in the area as tensions remain high, but Scotland Yard has insisted it cannot intervene over the location of tributes.
Last night, a man wearing hoodie was filmed tearing down the bouquets of flowers before they were stomped on.
PA
PA
Asked if he felt for the family, he said: “I do actually. But I feel extra bad for Mr Osborn.
“I am just going to dump the flowers somewhere.”
His actions came after a previous wall of tributes was destroyed by a man wielding a pair of scissors.
He raged: “The flowers need burning.
Gary Stone
Gary Stone
“They are an insult to the memory of the geezer who was burgled.”
He said of Mr Vincent: “He deserved to be dead.”
Last night, the aunt of Vincent even demanded that Mr Osborn-Brooks apologised for the burglar’s death.
She said: "He's got no remorse.
“There is no remorse there. Have you ever heard that man say, not for Henry but for his mum and dad and his little girls, 'I'm sorry for his kids'.
“We didn't put anything on the old man's house. We put it across the road, where he died.”
Vincent's alleged accomplice, Billy Jeeves, 28, is being hunted by police over the failed burglary, Scotland Yard said.
His burnt-out Vauxhall Astra van was found on Saturday in St Mary Cray, near Orpington, south-east London.
Mr Osborn-Brooks was arrested on suspicion of murder and released on bail, but was told on Friday that no action would be taken.
The pensioner's arrest provoked an outcry from neighbours and an online fundraising campaign has gathered thousands of pounds.