Friends and relatives of Henry Vincent carried photos and tributes to him to the home of pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks (Picture: PA)

The family of burglar Henry Vincent, stabbed to death during a raid on a pensioner’s home, today vheld a vigil for him to mark his 38th birthday.

Around 20 people left bouquets and flowers on a fence opposite the home of Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, where Vincent was killed.

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The women carried balloons saying ‘you’ll be missed’, flowers and a placard with a picture of Vincent to the spot where days ago a shrine was destroyed by angry neighbours.

Police officers stationed at the property are understood to have told the relatives – all women – to move the tributes to a different location away from the house.




A family member reportedly said: ‘He was a great dad, the children got a good education, go to church, there’s only one judge and that’s Jesus Christ.’

Relatives went back to the scene where Vincent was fatally stabbed in a botched burglary at the home of Mr Osborn-Brooks in Hither Green (Picture: PA)

Friends and relatives of Henry Vincent arrive at the scene on South Park Crescent in Hither Green, London (Picture: PA)

Police address friends and relatives of Henry Vincent as they bring birthday tributes to the scene (Picture: PA)

It comes after a source revealed Vincent’s family, who come from the traveller community, were planning a £100,000 funeral for him, including a horse-drawn procession past Mr Osborn-Brooks’ home in Hither Green.

The news sparked fears it could prompt violent clashes with locals.

Last week neighbours of Mr Osborn-Brooks – who has been moved to a safe house with his wife over fears of reprisals – tore down a shrine to the burglar after branding it disrespectful.

One man, Iain Gordon, was filmed shouting ‘scumbag’ as he ripped down flowers and ribbons on Wednesday.

He has since threatened to ‘cause as much disruption as possible’ if Vincent’s funeral cortege passes the scene of his death.

Henry Vincent, described as a career criminal, was stabbed to death during a burglary at the home of Mr Osborn-Brooks (Picture: Rex/Shutterstock)

Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, has been moved to a safe house with his wife after police dropped charges against him (Picture: Rex/Shutterstock)

Women holding signs, flowers and tributes arrived in Hither Green (Picture: PA)

Police watched as around 20 women arrived at the scene were pensioner Mr Osborn-Brooks lived (Picture: PA)

Friends and relatives tie flowers and balloons to lampposts to mark the birthday of burglar Henry Vincent (Picture: PA)

Mr Gordon also claims to have received death threats from Vincent’s family, saying the Met’s major crime unit presented him with a ‘threat to life’ letter warning him he was in danger.

Mr Osborn-Brooks was originally held on suspicion of murder after Vincent’s stabbing, but was later told he would not face police action.

A neighbour reportedly said the couple are now planning to put their house up for sale.