Ozzy Osbourne Birmingham floral tribute theft case dropped

A theft charge against a man who was accused of stealing flowers from tributes left to Ozzy Osbourne in Birmingham city centre has been dropped.

The charge against Parviz Jafari was withdrawn by prosecutors after a court was told a security guard had granted the 45-year-old permission to take the flowers.

Mr Jafari, from West Bromwich, spoke only to give his personal details during a four-minute hearing at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, where he was told he was free to go.

He was charged in August following reports of a theft among thousands of tributes left near the Black Sabbath bench and mural following Osbourne’s death in July aged 76 from a reported heart attack.

The court was told a review by the Crown Prosecution Service found there was no realistic prospect of conviction, because it could not be proved the defendant had been dishonest when he took the flowers.

District Judge Wain told MrJafari: “Please stand, sir. The matter having been withdrawn, you are free to go.”

Osbourne’s family viewed the tributes on 30 July after a public procession in which the heavy metal star’s body was driven past his childhood home and through his home city.