To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Removal Men Arrive At House Of Pensioner Where Burglar Was Killed

Removal Men Arrive At House Of Pensioner Where Burglar Was Killed

Richard Osborn-Brooks and his wife are thought to be in hiding due to fears of reprisals

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

Removal men have been spotted at a pensioner's home where a burglar was killed.

During the attempted burglary on 4 April, Richard Osborn-Brooks is thought to have taken a screwdriver from 37-year-old burglar Henry Vincent and fatally injured him.

Osborn-Brooks, 78, was arrested on suspicion of murder but was released without charge afterwards.

He and his disabled wife Maureen look unlikely to return to their house in Hither Green, South London, after the incident. It is thought that they are currently in a police safe house as a result of fear of reprisals from Vincent's associates.

SWNS

A van full of removal men arrived at his boarded up house this morning alongside a police car removal lorry that took away a car from the garage with its licence plates removed.

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, told The Mirror: "We always hoped they would come back at some stage but this looks rather final to me.

"It's all very sad."

In recent weeks the street has become a flashpoint for conflict between relatives and well-wishers of Vincent and those who support Osborn-Brooks.

Flowers and cards have been placed and then taken away several times by supporters of both sides of the dispute. Police established a permanent presence on the street recently to stop the tensions boiling over.

SWNS

Another neighbour, who also wished to remain anonymous, said that the couple intended to sell their house because of fears that they will be targeted.

The neighbour said: "They are waiting for the dust to settle before they announce that publicly and put their house on the market.

"It's the fact that they could come back and that his wife is disabled. They could terrorise him. It's not safe.

"He's got what happened that night on his conscience for the rest of his life now. He's never going to forget that he's killed someone.

"He's not a violent person. He's a really nice run-of-the-mill guy."

Several reports recently have stated that Vincent's family are planning an expensive funeral that will see a procession go past the house in which he was killed.

SWNS

Locals have vowed not to let that happen, promising a roadblock that will stop the funeral party travelling past Mr Osborn-Brooks' house.

A local woman has said that there will be further trouble if the funeral plans go ahead. She said: "It will get nasty and I think there will be a riot. For me that's the worst thing, and there's more aggression.

"The police should stop it. If they don't, I think people should protest against the police."

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: UK News, Funeral, London