Flowers removed again from shrine to burglar killed while committing crime

Flowers laid for the man killed in last week's Hither Green burglary-gone-wrong have been pulled down again, as tensions continue to rise in south east London.

An angry Iain Gordon, who said he was part of the Fair Society group, pulled down the flowers laid by the family of Henry Vincent.

Iain Gordon kicks flowers as he takes them away (Gareth Fuller/PA)
Iain Gordon kicks flowers as he takes them away (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The 37-year-old was killed during a burglary in the early hours of Wednesday morning last week.

He was stabbed after a struggle with 78-year-old Richard Osborn-Brooks, who was held by police after the incident but released without further charge on Friday afternoon.

Wednesday's incident follows one on Tuesday evening where a hooded man ripped down half of the flowers.

Mr Gordon, from Lewisham, tore down the remaining half just after 12:30pm on Wednesday.

Mr Gordon said: "These people are scumbags, scumbags, scumbags.

The flowers before they were removed (Gareth Fuller/PA)
The flowers before they were removed (Gareth Fuller/PA)

"If you don't know why I pulled the flowers down then you aren't a human being.

"Would you go around allowing someone to stab your parents?

"Would you allow someone to come round with a screwdriver?

"And then be considered human beings?"

Henry Vincent was the man killed during a raid on a pensioner's home in Hither Green (Kent Police/PA)
Henry Vincent was the man killed during a raid on a pensioner's home in Hither Green (Kent Police/PA)

The incident is the fourth of its kind since the stabbing occurred.

The flower shrine was originally laid by Vincent's family and friends on Monday and includes hand-written cards from his children and aunt.

Mr Gordon pulls the flowers down from a fence (Gareth Fuller/PA)
Mr Gordon pulls the flowers down from a fence (Gareth Fuller/PA)

One read: "To my daddy, no words can describe the pain and heartache we are going through.

"These people won't put us down. We love you dad. We miss you so much."

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