OAP arrested after stabbing burglar who broke into his home to death released without charge — in victory for common sense
THE pensioner who stabbed a burglar to death has been told he will not be charged — in a victory for common sense.
Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, was cleared over the death of Henry Vincent in South East London after 18,000 Sun readers signed a petition.
Vincent, 38, died after suffering a stab wound during the botched burglary on 78-year-old Richard Osborn-Brooks' home in South East London.
Police today confirmed the OAP would face no further action after he was arrested on suspicion of murder on Wednesday.
The decision to arrest him sparked outrage after The Sun revealed Vincent is a career criminal who targets elderly people - carrying out a spate of break-ins on the homes of vulnerable victims.
We urged our readers to to sign a petition calling for Mr Osborn-Brooks to face no further action.
Vincent was once on a “most wanted” list and had in the past been jailed for a total of 10 years.
He was arrested and still under investigation over a distraction burglary in which a box of jewellery was stolen from a man in his 70s last November.
Vincent was named by Kent cops in connection with that crime along with an accomplice who was also allegedly with him when he broke into the home of retired RAC worker Mr Osborn-Brooks.
The Metropolitan Police released a statement today confirming they had spoken to Vincent's family over their decision not to charge Mr Osborn-Brooks.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding, of the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "This is a tragic case for all of those involved. As expected with any incident where someone has lost their life, my officers carried out a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the death.
“We have approached the CPS for early investigative advice, as required under the guidance.
"We have received and considered that advice, and, at present - on the evidence available - we will not seek a charging decision. Therefore, no further action will be taken against the man."
The force defended the decision to interview the pensioner amid "various forms of debate" on the case.
They also confirmed there will be an inquest into Vincent's death, adding: "Our thoughts remain with the families whose lives have been devastated by these events."
Vincent and his alleged accomplice Billy Jeeves broke into the home where Mr Osborn-Brooks lives with his dementia sufferer wife Maureen, 77, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The couple were allegedly woken by the intruders, one reportedly armed with a screwdriver.
Mr Osborn-Brooks was said to have been forced downstairs into the kitchen while one of the men searched the house for valuables.
VILLAIN: JUNKIE WHO PREYED ON THE ELDERLY
THE burglar stabbed to death while breaking into the home of Richard Osborn-Brooks was a junkie criminal.
Dad-of-four Henry Vincent, 37, had a long record for targeting elderly victims and served several jail sentences.
He was said to be well known for carrying a screwdriver as a weapon.
In 2009, he was jailed for six years after charging an OAP £72,000 to replace a single tile on his roof. Vincent, described in court as a drug addict, told the pensioner his roof joists were rotten and showed him maggots as proof.
Police named Vincent in appeals about a burglary in October 2013 and a fraud in November 2016.
And in November last year, he was sought over a distraction burglary in Farningham, Kent, when a 70-year-old man’s jewellery was stolen.
The victim was tricked into letting a woman, who claimed to have been assaulted, into his home. A stolen white van pulled up outside, its horn was sounded and she left.
Also wanted over that crime was Billy Jeeves, 28. He is suspected of being with Vincent on the night he was killed.
Jeeves was one of three men caught trying to steal a car in St Mary Cray, South East London, while posing as policemen — unaware that the men in the car were plain-clothes officers.
Seven relatives from Vincent’s large traveller family were jailed in October 2003 after conning pensioners out of £450,000.
But last night his family asked to be left to grieve. A woman at the family home said: “Things have been twisted.”
By RACHEL DALE, NEIL SYSON, CHRIS POLLARD and MIKE SULLIVAN
It is understood the pensioner managed to overpower Vincent and stabbed him, despite bruising his arms in the struggle.
Vincent staggered into the road outside the property in Hither Green, South East London. He was bleeding heavily and collapsed.
His alleged accomplice left Vincent in the road before fleeing in a white van and was last night on the run.
Vincent, who comes from a large family of former travellers now based in Orpington, Kent, was taken by ambulance to a central London hospital where he was pronounced dead at 3.37am.
A post mortem revealed he died from a stab wound, while Mr Osborn-Brooks suffered bruising to his arms.
Cyril Goodman,who was previously targeted by Vincent, tonight praised the decision to release Mr Osborn-Brooks.
The 78-year-old said: "It is totally the right decision.
"Kent Police contacted me today to tell me he would not face any action and I am delighted.
'GENTLE' CROOK
THE thug stabbed to death after breaking into a pensioner’s home “didn’t deserve to die”, a relative has said.
Career criminal Henry Vincent, 37, had a history of targeting OAPs and was wanted for a separate burglary.
His crimes stretched back as far as 2003 when he was part of a family gang jailed for conning pensioners out of £450,000.
In 2009 he was jailed for conning a man, 80, out of £72,000 to fix a roof tile. But one close family member said: “He was a gentle giant with three beautiful little girls and what happened to him was wrong.
“Henry got in with the wrong crowd. He was wrong to do a burglary but didn’t deserve to die because of it.”
"He clearly acted in self defence. "This man was in his house armed with a screwdriver.
"Common sense has prevailed and I am delighted the police have told him he will not face further action. It must be a great sense of relief for him and his family."
Neighbours were delighted at the decision as the couple's home was boarded up by specialist security teams who put up metal grilles on the windows and doors at the property.
Sylbourne Sydial,49, is chairman of the neighbourhood watch in the area said: "I think it is fantastic news and I think people will be really happy about it.
";It is encouraging and means people will have full confidence in how the justice system works.
"The man was responsible for the care of his wife.
"However one is not dismissing the fact somebody sadly died. "
Other supporters welcomed the decision to lift the threat of charges.
One said on Twitter: “Everyone has the right to protect their family and property, the police should never have taken him in.”
Another labelled Vincent a “scumbag burglar”, adding: “Any other outcome would have been a travesty of justice.”
And a third wrote: “Richard Osborn-Brooks should be getting some kind of award.”
HUGE CALL FOR SENSE
THE murder case was dropped after more than 18,000 readers signed our online petition.
It took less than 24 hours to rack up the signatures.
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