Henry Vincent, the 37-year-old man who died during a burglary at a pensioner's home in south-east London, was wanted in connection with a separate distraction burglary involving an elderly victim, police have confirmed. Vincent was named by police after the incident at the home of Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, who was arrested on suspicion of murder but later released on bail.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning when Osborn-Brooks found two men in his home in South Park Crescent, Hither Green. A struggle ensued, and Vincent suffered a stab wound to his upper body. He was dragged from the house by an alleged accomplice but left on the pavement, where he was found collapsed. He was taken to hospital but pronounced dead at 3.37am.
Kent police had previously appealed for information about Vincent in January, linking him to a distraction burglary in Farningham in November last year. In that incident, a woman knocked on the door of a man in his 70s, claiming to have been assaulted and seeking refuge. She left when a white van pulled up and sounded its horn; the homeowner later discovered valuables missing. Kent police said they were also keen to speak to another man, Billy Jeeves, in connection with that case.
Detectives are now hunting for the surviving intruder, described as a white male, who fled the scene possibly in a white van. DCI Simon Harding appealed for witnesses, saying: “It is possible that he fled the scene in a vehicle, possibly a white van, leaving the scene in the direction of Further Green Road. Did you see this vehicle? Do you know where it went after this?”
Osborn-Brooks suffered bruising to his arms in the struggle. His arrest sparked anger among neighbours, with one saying: “He deserves a medal. You cannot break into people’s houses.” Local MP Heidi Alexander and legal experts said householders have a right to defend themselves in their homes if they believe they are being attacked. Ian Kelcey, co-chair of the Law Society’s criminal law committee, said he did not believe there was a need to change the law on self-defence, but noted that police must conduct a robust investigation to determine whether the force used was reasonable.
