Flowers and card left outside pensioner’s home for burglar stabbed to death in Hither Green

A tribute said he had a "heart of gold"

Henry Vincent, 37, died on Tuesday after being stabbed during the attempted robbery of the home of 78-year-old Richard Osborn-Brooks in Hither Green. The pensioner was arrested after the burglary on suspicion of murder but was subsequently released on bail. There was an overwhelming outpour of sympathy from the public for the pensioner, who acted in self-defence. However, a local resident has left a tribute to the deceased burglar, writing that he had a "heart of gold" in a card that accompanied a bouquet of flowers. The card read: ‘Henry, loved and cared for by many. A heart of gold, may god bless you and give you peace in heaven xxx. Sorely missed.’ The bouquet of flowers were left tied to a wooden corner post near the three-bedroom house. On Friday the Metropolitan Police announced that the pensioner would face no further action after Vincent's death.