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A Birmingham man has been charged with stealing flowers from the Black Sabbath bench, a memorial site where fans paid tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne. The heavy metal icon’s passing last month prompted an outpouring of grief, with fans flocking to the Broad Street landmark in his hometown. The bench and a nearby mural became a focal point for mourners, including Osbourne’s wife, Sharon, and their children, Aimee, Kelly, and Jack, who visited shortly after the musician’s funeral.
West Midlands Police confirmed the arrest and charge related to the theft. 45-year-old Parviz Jafari is scheduled to appear in court on September 3rd.
Birmingham City Council workers carefully collected the remaining tributes from the site earlier this week. The items will be preserved and eventually given to the Osbourne family.
In a statement released through the council, the family expressed their gratitude for the heartfelt tributes, echoing Ozzy’s famous sentiment, “BIRMINGHAM FOREVER!” Jack Osbourne also shared a video on social media documenting the removal of the flowers.