'Scumbags, scumbags, scumbags' - shrine to Henry Vincent pulled down again

A man who wished to remain anonymous said he drove from his home in north London to remove flowers laid in tribute to Vincent, after becoming "infuriated" by the story.

She added: "People paid for these flowers, so he must have been well-liked".

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

Family members of Vincent left floral tributes and cards at the scene of his death, but video footage showed man removing the flowers and railing against the tribute.

He said the tributes should have been left alone to "die off", adding: "I'm anxious these people might come back and cause a rumpus".

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Floral tributes to Henry Vincent were taken down by a man identifying himself as Cecil Coley

"You're thinking 'How long will it be up there?' I'm relieved it's down".

Career-criminal Vincent's cousin, who gave her name as Elvina, said of pensioner Mr Osborn-Brooks today: "He's a coward - he won't come out when we're here".

It comes after Scotland Yard issued an appeal for Billy Jeeves, who is wanted in connection with the burglary.

Saverimuthu Augustine, 78, said he was "annoyed" that some flowers had been attached to fences around his house. I do not appreciate it.

A neighbour, Theresa Webb, described the tributes as "inappropriate" and of "poor taste".

"If it is a normal person it is different - it could have been my house [that was burgled]".

Heart-shaped balloons and more than 20 floral bouquets have been left near the spot where the dying burglar was found, across the road from Mr Osborn-Brooks's home. "There were 101 bouquets down there", she added.

Officers were called to reports of a burglary at 12.45am, after two men entered the house on South Park Crescent.#.

The van was found burnt out and destroyed on April 7 in Star Lane, near Hockingdon Lane in Orpington, Kent.

The pensioner's arrest provoked an outcry from neighbours and an online fundraising campaign has gathered thousands of pounds.

Armed with a screwdriver, one suspect forced Osborn-Brooks into his kitchen when he discovered them, while his accomplice went upstairs.

Detectives think a struggle broke out between "one of the males and the homeowner" and the intruder was stabbed in the upper body. It is unclear what implement was used to inflict the fatal blow.

Both Vincent and Jeeves were already being sought for questioning by Kent Police following a series of burglaries in Farningham in January.