A career criminal fatally stabbed by an elderly homeowner as he raided the pensioner's home was lawfully killed, a coroner has ruled.
Henry Vincent's chest was pierced with a 12-inch kitchen knife brandished by Richard Osborn-Brooks, who had warned the screwdriver-wielding intruder that his weapon was "bigger than yours and if you don't leave my house you will be sorry".
But Vincent, who had cocaine and heroin in his system, ignored his warning and instead "ran into" the blade, Mr Osborn-Brooks told Southwark Coroner's Court .
Pensioner who stabbed burglar to death shouted 'mine is bigger than yours'
The 79-year-old had told Vincent "get out of my house you bastard or it will be the worse for you" as he attempted to protect his elderly wife Maureen, the inquest heard.
Balaclava-wearing Vincent and another masked accomplice entered the house in South Park Crescent, Hither Green, south-east London, demanding cash in the early hours of April 4 last year, the inquest was told.
Senior coroner Andrew Harris recorded a verdict of lawful killing on Thursday.
He said: "In considering the force it would seem that given there is two intruders at night, one with a weapon, the use of moderate force would seem to me to reasonably be proportionate.
"It seems to me the combination of unpredictability and fear were factors that have to be taken into account considering the proportionality of the force that was used."
He added: "The householder stabbed Mr Vincent in his own home on April 4 2018 just after midnight after he and another intruder had threatened him in an attempted burglary.
"The interaction that led to the stabbing was the simultaneous approach of the deceased with a small screwdriver and the forward movement of the householder with a kitchen knife, leading to moderate force being applied by the knife to Mr Vincent's chest, and its penetration.
"The householder was terrified and asserted he acted in self defence, after an assault by the other intruder.
"He was close to, but not obstructing, the exit by the intruder."
After the killing, the usually quiet south London neighbourhood became a flashpoint when friends and family of Vincent, who is of traveller heritage, laid flowers and cards opposite the home of Mr Osborn-Brooks.
The tributes were repeatedly torn down by neighbours and well-wishers angry at the shrine to career criminal Vincent - only to reappear again within hours or days.
At Vincent's funeral, a fleet of 10 Mercedes limos adorned with a variety of floral tributes - from a boxing ring to a caravan - proceeded through the streets of Kent to St Mary's Church in Orpington.
Residents living around Mr Osborn-Brooks' home in South Park Crescent in Hither Green, south London, used their own cars to block the roads to stop the funeral cortege making an appearance.
