War of the posies: Police urged to step in as shrine to stabbed burglar Henry Vincent is ripped down for FOURTH time

Neighbours said a battle over the floral tributes has turned the street into a 'war zone' 

Police were today urged to step into the “war of the posies” battle over a street shrine to the burglar stabbed to death by a pensioner.

Floral tributes left for career criminal Henry Vincent in the street where he died were torn down today for the fourth time in 48 hours. Neighbours said the dispute had turned their quiet south-east London street into a “war zone”.

The makeshift memorial in Hither Green was erected on Monday by members of Vincent’s family, apparently including his girlfriend and children.

More than 100 bouquets as well as cards, teddies and balloons have since been repeatedly put up and torn down from the fence in South Park Crescent, opposite the home of Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, who stabbed Vincent during the 37-year-old’s botched burglary.

Iain Gordon pulls the flowers down from a fence opposite the house of Richard Osborn-Brooks in South Park Crescent in Hither Green, London
Gareth Fuller/PA

Police on horseback were seen patrolling the street yesterday afternoon as tensions between Vincent’s family and vigilantes threatened to boil over.

Today a 58-year-old resident, who has lived in the road for 18 years, said: “The flowers have made things worse. They keep going up then taken away. Now we are living in a war zone in what has always been a quiet street and it needs to stop. Police have to be the grown-ups and calm things down. It can’t go on.”

Tributes row: A man removes flowers left in Hither Green for stabbed burglar Henry Vincent
Daily Mail

One neighbour, who did not give her name for fear of reprisals, said: “This is a quiet community and it’s being ruined. The attention is ramping up and its causing vigilantes from outside the area to turn up. We feel under threat and it’s putting us all in danger.”

The latest incident came at midday today, when a man his sixties wearing a stetson and high-visibility jacket, who gave his name as Iain Gordon, began tearing down flowers and cards.

He ripped all 15 remaining bouquets from the fence and threw them in a pile on the floor. The man claimed he had a long-standing row with the travelling community, adding: “We’ve had enough.” Mr Gordon said that although he did not know Mr Osborn-Brooks he thought he was “a hero”.

Yesterday a hooded man arrived at 9.30pm and was filmed ripping nine bouquets from the fence.

A police cordon outside Richard Osborn-Brooks house
Alex Lentati

Minutes earlier, two women had pulled up in a dark BMW and straightened flowers that had been blown upside down by the wind. Insisting on anonymity, the hooded man said: “I do feel very strongly about this. I think it’s quite disrespectful actually. I do [feel bad for his family]. But I feel extra for Mr Osborn-Brooks.”

Police patrol where Henry Vincent was killed whilst burgling a house in Hither Green, south east London
PA

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 prompted a public outcry.

Henry Vincent was stabbed to death during a struggle with a pensioner during a break-in in Hither Green
EPA

Mr Osborn-Brooks and his disabled wife have had to leave their home because of concerns for their safety and are thought to be staying with friends.

Friends and family of Henry Vincent who was killed whilst burgling a house in Hither Green, south east London last week attach flowers to a fence where he died for a third time
PA

Vincent’s alleged accomplice, Billy Jeeves, 28, is being sought over the failed burglary, Scotland Yard said.

Police today remained on guard outside the home of Mr Osborn-Brooks, about 20 feet from the shrine. A Met spokesman said: “We are maintaining a police presence to provide reassurance to local residents. The location of floral tributes is not a matter for police.”

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