Billy Jeeves, 28, is a wanted man following a botched raid at the south east London home of Richard Osborn-Brooks last Wednesday
Police have released the first image of an accomplice who is still on the run five days after a pensioner stabbed a burglar to death in his home.
Billy Jeeves, 28, is a wanted man following a botched raid at the south east London home of Richard Osborn-Brooks last Wednesday.
The pensioner, 78, was hailed a hero after he protected his home and wife from career criminal Henry Vincent, 37.
But police are on the hunt for Jeeves, who has links to Orpington and Swanley in Kent, and Cambridge, as they believe he was accomplice to the burglary.
A van he was believed to be driving was found burnt out and destroyed on Saturday night, near Hockingdon Lane in Orpington, Kent.
Since the incident, Mr Osborn-Brooks and his wife Maureen have not returned to their £500,000 home out of fear for their lives.
The pensioner’s Hither Green neighbours launched a GoFundMe as a show of support and more than £7,500 has been raised in four days.
Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, (left) was hailed a hero after he protected his home and wife from Henry Vincent, 37 (right). Police are still on the hunt for his believed accomplice Billy Jeeves
CCTV footage shows burglar Henry Vincent 31 hours before he was killed by pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks
The couple are believed to be staying at an undisclosed location in fear of their lives, as their house has been fitted with security grilles and a police surveillance camera has been mounted on a nearby lamppost.
Police are still searching for Vincent’s accomplice, who is believed to be Billy Jeeves.
During the botched raid in South Park Crescent, Hither Green, the accomplice dragged a fatally wounded Vincent toward a van before leaving him for dead, according to a witness.
The second man has not been found but video footage, obtained exclusively by MailOnline, is being examined by detectives who are hunting the second burglar who fled in a white van after failing to resuscitate Mr Vincent.
There is also fear of retaliation for Osborn-Brooks as serial burglar Vincent was part of a large family describing themselves as travellers.
Many live on a housing association estate in St Mary Cray, near Orpington.
According to residents, Vincent was part of the tight-knit community whose members have a reputation for violence.
The pensioner’s Hither Green neighbours launched a GoFundMe as a show of support and more than £7,500 has been raised in four days
One of the extended Vincent clan shamelessly declared on social media a few years ago: ‘An OAP a day keeps ur bank balance at bay. The old b******s deserve everything they get.’
While Mr Osborn-Brooks’ neighbours and friends were relieved at his exoneration, any celebrations were muted because of nervousness over his future.
‘The police have told us unofficially there’s no way he’ll be able to move back into his home with his wife,’ one told The Mail on Sunday, asking not to be named.
‘The kind of people involved in this will stop at nothing to have their vengeance. It’s awful that Richard and Maureen will have to move away towards the end of their lives.’
Meanwhile, the GoFundMe for the pensioner has hit £7,500.
The fund was started by Gemma Sargeant who said although she didn’t know Mr Osborn-Brooks personally, she wanted to do something for the hero.
It was originally thought Mr Osborn-Brooks would face charges for the incident and the fundraiser was to collect donations for his legal fees.
A card left outside of the home of a pensioner who stabbed a burglar to death while defending his disabled wife has paid tribute to the home invader
Workers install security at home of Richard Osborn-Brooks in Hither Green, south east London
Workmen fit security grilles to the Osborn-Brookses’ home and a surveillance camera a nearby lamppost
She wrote: ‘Hopefully, the CPS will not charge Richard and agree that this was reasonable force whilst protecting himself and his wife.
‘Whilst it’s never pleasant when someone dies as a result of self defence the fact remains that the man in question illegally entered someone’s home and threatened them with violence. Criminals should not be given more rights than the victim!’
The goal was to raise £3,000 but the target was passed in just 24 hours.
Ms Sargeant is working to hand over the money to Mr Osborn-Brooks, although he hasn’t been seen since the incident.
The post First picture of accomplice still on the run after pensioner stabbed burglar to death appeared first on Article Pub.
from WordPress https://ift.tt/2qhvO7F
No comments:
Post a Comment