Man charged with theft of Ozzy tribute flowers

A man has been charged in connection with the theft of flowers left as a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne in Birmingham, police have said.

Osbourne, 76, died on 22 July from a reported heart attack, and thousands of floral tributes, as well as cards and other items, were left at or around a bench in the city centre commemorating the formation of heavy metal band Black Sabbath, for which Osbourne was the frontman.

West Midlands Police said Parviz Jafari, 45, has been charged with theft, and would appear before magistrates on 3 September.

The force said he was arrested on 2 August after officers were alerted to a theft at the Broad Street location.

On Monday, Birmingham City Council began the task of collecting the tributes to hand them over to the family.

They items were to be gathered at a secret location for photographing and collating before being passed on, the authority said.

Some of the flowers are to be scattered by his grave.