Hither Green burglary: Police arrest man in connection with break-in that saw intruder stabbed to death

Twenty-eight-year-old is alleged accomplice of killed man

The suspected accomplice of a burglar stabbed to death in a botched break-in has been arrested, police say.

Billy Jeeves was wanted over a raid at the house of 78-year-old Richard Osborn-Brooks in Hither Green, south-east London.

The 28-year-old was detained in north Kent at 5.30pm on Friday. He is being held on suspicion of two counts of burglary, theft and possession of a controlled substance.

Career criminal Henry Vincent was killed after a struggle broke out between himself and Mr Osborn-Brooks during the break-in in the early hours of 4 April.

Burglary suspect Henry Vincent was killed during an alleged break-in (Kent Police)

He was stabbed with his own screwdriver and the pensioner was arrested on suspicion of murder but later released without charge.

Following the incident, police appealed for information about an alleged accomplice and said he may have escaped in a white van. The vehicle was found burned out on 7 April in Orpington.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Billy Jeeves was located and detained by officers from the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command, with support from officers from the Territorial Support Group and officers at Kent police.”

They added: “He has been taken into custody at a Kent police station. No other persons are being sought in connection with this investigation. Enquiries continue.”

The burglary became the subject of national attention with tensions flaring when friends and family of Vincent, 37, left a shrine of flowers and balloons close to the home of Mr Osborn-Brooks.

The tributes were repeatedly torn down by residents who felt they should not be located so close to a house that Vincent died trying to burgle.

It is understood Mr Osborn-Brooks and disabled wife, Maureen, 76, have been under protection of a 24-hour police guard ever since.