Naked Ozzy Osbourne fought burglar in 'headlock' as brazen thief broke into home

The late Ozzy Osbourne once confronted a brazen burglar who broke into his home while Sharon slept. The singer-songwriter was said to have come face-to-face with the masked intruder in the middle of the night before they made off with jewellery.

Ozzy, who died, aged 76, yesterday, and his wife Sharon Osbourne, now 72, were reportedly asleep when two men broke into their home in Buckinghamshire in 2004. They were said to have fled with jewellery worth an estimated £1 million, and the incident led to a police appeal involving the couple.

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It was reported at the time that the burglary took place after Ozzy and Sharon returned home from a birthday party in London forSir Elton John's husband, David Furnish. They were said to have been asleep when the intruders entered their home.

Ozzy stumbled into one of the burglars when he got up to use the bathroom at around 4am. The Black Sabbath legend, who was reportedly naked at the time, was then said to have held the assailant in a headlock before they fled by jumping from a first-floor window.

It was suggested that the intruders had bypassed a security system at the home. They were said to have got in through the first floor and went through various rooms before making off with a "substantial" haul of jewellery.

The haul was said to have included a 10 carat diamond ring given to Sharon two years prior when she renewed her wedding vows with Ozzy. Insurers reportedly put up a £100,000 reward over the stolen items, thought to be worth £1 million.

During a press conference, Ozzy said: "When I had a go at the assailant, as I said earlier on, I acted purely on impulse. In hindsight, it could've been a lot worse. I could have been like George Harrison [who was once stabbed by an intruder]. I could have been badly injured or shot or anything."

Ozzy said that things could have "got really ugly". As reported in footage from the time shared by , when asked if he would tackle a burglar again, Ozzy responded at the press conference: "Is the Pope a Catholic?"

Sharon also gave details about her ring, which was reportedly stolen from a bedside table. She said: "[Ozzy] always said I was a perfect 10 [and] that when he had the money he would buy me a 10-carat diamond ring and he did."

Years later, it was reported that a ring had been recovered after their daughter Kelly Osbourne, now 40, spotted it on the BBC's Crimewatch in 2011. It came following an appeal on the TV show for owners of stolen items to come forward after South Yorkshire Police recovered some jewellery.

It was suggested at the time that none of the other items said to have been stolen from the Osbournes were part of the recovered lot. Kelly however said Sharon was in tears over seeing her ring. She wrote on X: "Thank you crime watch my mum is over the moon that's her wedding ring she cried with joy because she can get it back! Thank you!"

The experience has prompted attention again this week following the news of Ozzy's death. His wife Sharon and four of his children shared the news in a statement just last night, in which they revealed that he had died yesterday.

His death has led comments made by Ozzy over the years resurfacing. There have also been articles about his life and career, alongside tributes, including from his former bandmates, making headlines following the news too.

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