Shrine to suspected burglar killed by pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks torn down by furious neighbours

One tribute says man killed was 'too good to walk the earth'

A shrine dedicated to a suspected burglar killed by a pensioner during a botched break-in has been torn down by people living nearby.

Flowers, balloons and cards had been tied to a fence near 78-year-old Richard Osborn-Brooks' home in memory of Henry Vincent, who was stabbed to death during a home intrusion at the house in south-east London.

The makeshift memorial included one card saying the 37-year-old - who had armed himself with a screwdriver for the intrusion - was "too good to walk the earth". Another, apparently from the Vincent's daughter, read: “You was the best…you would do anything for your family, especially us girls.”

But the tributes have now been ripped down, with burst balloons, soiled cards and ruined flowers left strewn across the pavement of South Park Crescent, Hither Green.

One person even filmed himself helping bring down the shrine. Writing on Facebook - where the footage was posted - the vigilante said: "When I heard the family of Henry Vincent (the burglar that got stabbed to death by his intended victim), had placed flowers on the road where he died, I was extremely furious." The clip shows him pulling down flowers and dumping them. A later photo shows more flowers left in a nearby cemetery.

The controversy came as it was reported Mr Osborn-Brooks and his disabled wife, Maureen, may never return to the property for fear of revenge attacks.

A neighbour of Mr Osborn-Brooks, who gave his name only as Peter, said: "Will he ever be able to come back and live here? I doubt it. It's sad."

And, talking of the shrine, he added: “I wouldn't want them on my wall anyway put it like that. They were climbing the fence and everything yesterday.”

Richard Osborn-Brooks (Facebook)

A woman with him who did not give her name added: "You just feel sorry for him because he's probably worked his whole life to get that house and now he's out through no fault of his own."

Ex-RAC manager and security guard Mr Osborn-Brooks was woken up when Vincent and his accomplice broke in just after midnight on Wednesday April 4. He investigated and was threatened with a screwdriver, before ex-boxer Vincent was stabbed during a scuffle in the kitchen.

Mr Osborn-Brooks was initially arrested on suspicion of murder but later released without charge.

Billy Jeeves is wanted in connection with a burglary at the home of Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78. (Universal News (Europe))

Police have since named 28-year-old Billy Jeeves as wanted in connection with the incident. Officers say they especially want to hear from anybody who may have seen his white Vauxhall Astra van - with the registration GU52 AXT - in the days and hours before and after the burglary.

The van was found burned out and destroyed on Saturday evening in Star Lane in Orpington, Kent.