Man Arrested After Stealing Flowers From OZZY OSBOURNE’s Memorial

Police have charged a man in connection with the theft of flowers from a public memorial honoring the late Ozzy Osbourne in his hometown. And let’s just get this out of the way right up top – what an asshole, right?

According to the BBC, West Midlands Police confirmed that 45-year-old Parviz Jafari has been charged with theft following the removal of floral tributes from the Black Sabbath bench on Broad Street — a site that, since Osbourne‘s death, has been transformed into a focal point for fans paying their respects. Jafari was arrested on August 2 after reports of a theft at the location and is due to appear before magistrates on September 3.

The site became a place of pilgrimage for fans worldwide after Osbourne died on July 22 at age 76 from a reported heart attack. The Birmingham-born Prince of Darkness had battled Parkinson’s disease in recent years, but his death still came as a shock to millions.

In the days following his passing, thousands of flowers, handwritten notes, band memorabilia, and personal mementos were left at or near the bench commemorating the formation of Black Sabbath, the band he co-founded in 1968. On July 30, during Osbourne‘s public funeral procession through Birmingham, his wife Sharon and children Jack and Kelly stopped at the memorial to view the tributes and add their own flowers.

Birmingham City Council has since begun carefully collecting the items to preserve them for Osbourne‘s family. The tributes are being photographed, catalogued, and stored at a secure location before being handed over. Officials have said that some of the flowers will be mulched and scattered by his grave.

Following the public procession, Osbourne was laid to rest in a private ceremony on July 31 at his home in Buckinghamshire. The intimate service was reportedly attended by close friends and fellow rock legends, including Rob Zombie, Elton John, Yungblud, and Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward.

Familial Tributes to Ozzy Osbourne

In the wake of his death, Osbourne‘s children have publicly thanked fans for their overwhelming support. Kelly Osbourne said: “The love, support, and beautiful messages I’ve received from so many of you have truly helped carry me through the hardest moment of my life. Every kind word, every shared memory, every bit of compassion has meant more than I can ever explain.”

Jack Osbourne posted his own tribute, adding: “I haven’t really wanted to post anything since the passing of my father. My heart has hurt too much. I’ll keep this short because he hated long, rambling speeches. He was so many things to so many people, but I was lucky and blessed to be part of a very small group who got to call him ‘Dad.’ My heart is heavy with sadness and sorrow, but also full of love and gratitude. I got 14,501 days with that man, and I know what a blessing that is.”

The theft at the tribute site has saddened many in the local community, though police stressed the importance of reporting any suspicious activity to ensure such memorials remain places of respect. As Sharon Osbourne said during the procession, the Birmingham tribute was “a gift from the fans back to Ozzy” — a place where love for the metal icon could be felt in every flower and every note left behind.