Hither Green OAP ‘receives NEW death threats from traveller gang'

THE OAP who fatally knifed a burglar with a screwdriver has received more death threats from a traveller gang who want to "even the score", it has been claimed.

Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, was released without charge after he stabbed Henry Vincent, 37, at his South East London home in April last year.

Criminal associates of traveller Vincent are now "hell bent" on getting revenge for the traveller's death.

Sources told the Daily Star: "He will have a price on his head for life."

They added: "They don't care that it was self-defence. They see it as one of their own being killed and they want to even the score."

Mr Osborn-Brooks had been at his Hither Green home with 76-year-old wife Maureen when he woke to find two men rummaging around his home.

The suspected crook fled the scene but collapsed in the street and later died of the stab wound to the upper body.

Mr Osborn-Brooks was then arrested on suspicion of murder and bailed on April 5 pending further enquiries.

He was later cleared of all charges and will face no further action.

But tensions boiled over outside Mr Osborn-Brooks house after the stabbing, with two floral shrines set up for Vincent torn down.

Henry Vincent, a father-of-four, had reportedly targeted a number of pensioners during his long criminal career.

The 37-year-old was said to be well known for carrying a screwdriver as a weapon.

He was revealed to have been once on a “most wanted” list and had previously been jailed for a total of 10 years.

Vincent had been part of a gang known to escort victims to banks to withdraw the cash to pay for work.

In 2009, Vincent was jailed for six years after charging an OAP £72,000 to replace a single tile on his roof.

Vincent, described in court as a drug addict, told the pensioner his roof joists were rotten and showed him maggots as proof.

Seven relatives from Vincent’s large traveller family were jailed in October 2003 after conning pensioners out of £450,000.