A suspected burglar stabbed to death during a raid on a pensioner’s home was already wanted by police over a break-in involving another elderly victim, it has emerged.
Henry Vincent, 37, was named on Thursday as the intruder fatally wounded at the London home of Richard Osborn-Brooks, who was later arrested on suspicion of murder.
Vincent and an accomplice are believed to have threatened the 78-year-old with a screwdriver during the burglary in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Vincent was stabbed after a struggling broke out in the pensioner's house in Hither Green, south-east London.
The alleged accomplice dragged him away towards a white van before leaving him for dead. Police are still hunting for the surviving intruder.
In January Kent Police said Vincent was wanted in connection to distraction burglary in Farningham in which two men stole jewellery from the house of a man in his 70s.
Mr Osborn-Brooks was released on bail on Thursday after being questioned by police.
Neighbours said the pensioner, who suffered bruising during the struggle, should not be punished for defending his home. Mr Osborn-Brooks is said to live with his wife, who suffers from dementia.
“They were indoors minding their own business and their world has been turned upside down,” said one elderly neighbour. ”I feel so sorry for him and his wife.”
Adam Lake, who also lives nearby, said: “He doesn’t deserve to be punished for defending himself, and the neighbours that I’ve spoken to all agree that the priority needs to be to support him after everything that he’s been through. He was just protecting himself after all.”
Police were called to a reported burglary at the house at 12.45am on Wednesday.
“The 78-year-old resident had found two men inside the address and a struggle ensued between him and the men,” said a Metropolitan Police spokesman.
“It is believed that one of the suspects had a screwdriver and threatened the homeowner with it.”
Officers found Vincent collapsed nearby with a stab wound to his upper body.
He was taken to hospital by ambulance and pronounced dead at 3.37am.
Mr Osborn-Brooks was initially arrested on suspicious of causing grievous bodily harm. He was later arrested again on suspicion of murder before being bailed until early May.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding said: “I would like to speak with anyone who has information regarding the outstanding suspect from the burglary, who is believed to be a white male; he may have told someone what happened at the address.”
