Release Richard Osborn-Brooks
Donation protected
UPDATE: TRANSFER OF FUNDS PLAN. 28th April 2018.
Hi Everyone
I'm now closing the campaign and arranging the transfer of funds to Mr Osbourne-Brookes.
I'd like to thank each and every one of you for your generosity and kindness. What started as a campaign amongst the local community has reached as far as Canada and kind words of support have poured in for Mr Osbourne-Brookes and his wife.
With regards to the transfer of funds it's been a bit tricky. As I'm sure you've read/seen in the news, Mr Osbourne-Brookes doesn't feel safe returning home and so the police are unable to put me directly in touch with him or disclose any of his personal information, which is needed to transfer the funds (I.e. address, NI number etc).
I've been working with Detective Inspector Rance of Lewisham Police Station and Go Fund Me to get the funds transferred without impacting on Mr Osbourne-Brookes privacy or safety. What we are going to do is put me as a beneficiary for the funds to be transferred to and I'm going to then immediately transfer these funds to an intermediatary account supplied by Mr Osbourne-Brookes to the police. The funds will then be transferred to Mr Osbourne-Brookes from this account. This way his privacy and safety are protected at all times.
At the time of posting this we have raised £9,987. After the fees charged by Go Fund Me this will amount to £9,610.28 being transferred to Mr Osbourne-Brookes.
This campaign was started to help get Mr Osbourne-Brookes the best legal support possible. However, as he was never charged, it is hoped this money will help him and his wife get a fresh start after this horrible ordeal.
I'm sure I speak for everyone here in wishing Mr Osbourne-Brookes all the best for the future.
Thanks again everyone
Best wishes
Gemma
EDIT: Go Fund Me have asked me to add a statement. I don't know Richard personally but he lives local to where I grew up. His story hit a nerve with me as I have been burgled myself (thankfully I was out) and in recent months I have known 2 families who have been targeted locally. The spate of burglaries in the area is becoming a concern for many. I just want to help a 78 year old man by raising money for him to either put towards his legal fees (if needed) or to put towards making his home more secure for him and his disabled wife or so they can have a little something to know the community are thinking of them. I'm planning to reach out to him as we near the goal and hand the funds over. I'm more than happy to hand this over to someone official to do if needed. I have also donated money as well at the start of this fundraiser. Thank you ORIGINAL POST BELOW Richard Osborn-Brooks has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. This is because at age 78, he had the courage to fight back and protect himself and his disabled wife against 2 intruders who broke into his home, forced him into his kitchen in the early hours of the morning and threatened him with a screw driver (source sky news). I can't begin to imagine what he must be feeling right now having gone through this and how worried he must be about his wife whilst being held in custody. Given the recent burglaries in the area many people are outraged by this. People should be entitled to protect themselves and the increase in crime with no resolution is not good enough! 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! If the CPS do charge him I'd like to raise money to help him with legal costs. I've set this at £3,000 for now until there has been an update on the situation then it can be revised if need be. If he isn't charged he can use this money to help secure his home so they can feel safe and maybe to treat himself and his wife to something nice so they know the community is behind them. We support you Richard! #ReleaseRichard
Hi Everyone
I'm now closing the campaign and arranging the transfer of funds to Mr Osbourne-Brookes.
I'd like to thank each and every one of you for your generosity and kindness. What started as a campaign amongst the local community has reached as far as Canada and kind words of support have poured in for Mr Osbourne-Brookes and his wife.
With regards to the transfer of funds it's been a bit tricky. As I'm sure you've read/seen in the news, Mr Osbourne-Brookes doesn't feel safe returning home and so the police are unable to put me directly in touch with him or disclose any of his personal information, which is needed to transfer the funds (I.e. address, NI number etc).
I've been working with Detective Inspector Rance of Lewisham Police Station and Go Fund Me to get the funds transferred without impacting on Mr Osbourne-Brookes privacy or safety. What we are going to do is put me as a beneficiary for the funds to be transferred to and I'm going to then immediately transfer these funds to an intermediatary account supplied by Mr Osbourne-Brookes to the police. The funds will then be transferred to Mr Osbourne-Brookes from this account. This way his privacy and safety are protected at all times.
At the time of posting this we have raised £9,987. After the fees charged by Go Fund Me this will amount to £9,610.28 being transferred to Mr Osbourne-Brookes.
This campaign was started to help get Mr Osbourne-Brookes the best legal support possible. However, as he was never charged, it is hoped this money will help him and his wife get a fresh start after this horrible ordeal.
I'm sure I speak for everyone here in wishing Mr Osbourne-Brookes all the best for the future.
Thanks again everyone
Best wishes
Gemma
EDIT: Go Fund Me have asked me to add a statement. I don't know Richard personally but he lives local to where I grew up. His story hit a nerve with me as I have been burgled myself (thankfully I was out) and in recent months I have known 2 families who have been targeted locally. The spate of burglaries in the area is becoming a concern for many. I just want to help a 78 year old man by raising money for him to either put towards his legal fees (if needed) or to put towards making his home more secure for him and his disabled wife or so they can have a little something to know the community are thinking of them. I'm planning to reach out to him as we near the goal and hand the funds over. I'm more than happy to hand this over to someone official to do if needed. I have also donated money as well at the start of this fundraiser. Thank you ORIGINAL POST BELOW Richard Osborn-Brooks has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. This is because at age 78, he had the courage to fight back and protect himself and his disabled wife against 2 intruders who broke into his home, forced him into his kitchen in the early hours of the morning and threatened him with a screw driver (source sky news). I can't begin to imagine what he must be feeling right now having gone through this and how worried he must be about his wife whilst being held in custody. Given the recent burglaries in the area many people are outraged by this. People should be entitled to protect themselves and the increase in crime with no resolution is not good enough! 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! If the CPS do charge him I'd like to raise money to help him with legal costs. I've set this at £3,000 for now until there has been an update on the situation then it can be revised if need be. If he isn't charged he can use this money to help secure his home so they can feel safe and maybe to treat himself and his wife to something nice so they know the community is behind them. We support you Richard! #ReleaseRichard
Organizer
Gemma Sargeant
Organizer