Taxpayer ‘could face bill for Hither Green burglar Henry Vincent’s funeral’

TAXPAYERS may have to foot the bill for the Hither Green burglar's funeral, according to reports.

Career criminal Henry Vincent, 37, was fatally stabbed by pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks last week during a botched burglary at the OAP's home.

But as torn up and trampled flowers in his memory laid strewn across the pavement close to the scene of his death, it emerged Vincent could receive a tax-payer funded send-off because he was unemployed.

If Vincent's loved ones receive certain benefits or tax credits, they may be entitled to up to £700 as well as a lump sump to cover funeral costs including burial fees and travel to the funeral ceremony.

Osborn-Brook's neighbours were outraged, one told the "He has got a family so why should the taxpayer pay for it?

"Look at all those floral tributes to him. His family has got money so they can pay for it."

Another anonymous local told the newspaper: "It stinks. He was milking the system for decades. He doesn't deserve a penny off the taxpayer."

Security esd beefed up at the pensioners home yesterday as preparations for his return home appeared to take place.

The measures are an attempt to make Richard Osborn-Brooks' South London home, where career criminal Henry Vincent was killed in a botched burglary.

Cops have been standing guard outside the boarded-up house where the 78-year-old and wife Maureen, 76, have been too afraid to return to over death threats.

Earlier LFB said they were carrying out safety checks at homes in Hither Green as part of their regular work.

A spokesperson explained: "We are in the area today to undertake home fire safety visits which is part of our regular fire prevention work that all fire stations undertake in their local communities.

“London Fire Brigade undertake around 80,000 home fire safety visits every year where crews provide free smoke alarms and information about preventing fires in the home.”

Tensions escalated in the area after the family of Vincent defiantly built a shrine outside the OAP's home.

Vigilante locals tore down floral tributes left to the criminal as Sun Online today revealed cops are threatening to arrest anyone who trashes it.

On Tuesday night a hooded man, who said he came from Hammersmith, West London, was filmed walking off with flowers.

Just 30 minutes later another man was filmed hacking down the bouquets and leaving them in a heap on the floor, claiming they were an "insult" to the pensioner.

It comes after some of Vincent's relatives issued chilling threats to the mystery man who has gone into hiding after filming himself tearing down tributes on Monday night.

One threatened to unmask the vigilante and force him to eat the flowers while another branded him a "nasty little man" in a Facebook rant.

Mr Osborn-Brooks and his wife have not been able to return to their home since the fatal stabbing, with a pal claiming they are living in fear after discovering Vincent was a traveller.

The ex-RAC manager and security guard was woken up when Vincent and an accomplice after they broke in just after midnight on Wednesday.

He investigated and was threatened with a screwdriver before former boxer Vincent was stabbed during a scuffle in the kitchen.

The pensioner was initially arrested on suspicion of murder but later released without charge.

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