Disabled child ‘housebound’ after crooks steal his buggy

FIRM OFFERS FAMILY A NEW ONE IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

Thieves stole a special buggy belonging to disabled James Cantrill from outside the family’s home in Mickleover, Derby. Below, from left: dad Adam, James, and mum Lucy. THIEVES who stole a disabled child’s buggy in Derby have left him ‘housebound.’

The crooks took the speciallydesigned chair from outside threeyear-old James’s house in Mickleover, earlier this week.

His mum, Lucy Cantrill, says they won’t be able to do anything at the weekend as her son, who has cerebral palsy, cannot get around comfortably without the buggy.

Mrs Cantrill said she can just about manage to take James to Ivy House School, in Littleover, in a stroller but longer trips would cause James too much discomfort.

The Royal Derby Hospital scientist said: “Luckily, we have a little stroller so I used that, which was OK for a twominute journey, but long term it won’t provide enough support.

“He has cerebral palsy so there’s a high risk of scoliosis. It’s all about keeping his body flexed so it’s in a good position and there’s support for his head.

“He can’t walk so it’s the only way he can get about. Without the buggy we are running the risk of secondary complications.”

The buggy was stolen from outside the family’s house, in Chain Lane, between 11.30am and 4.30pm on Wednesday.

Mrs Cantrill and husband Adam, 37, a Murray Park Community School teacher, have two other children, Georgia, 2, and Lydia, 6.

She said she could not understand why someone would steal the chair.

She said: “It’s quite obvious that it’s a moulded chair with a foot plate. “Normal buggies don’t look like that. “I’m not sure anyone else could even fit in it – it’s made for James’s body.

“I have no idea why someone would want to do this.

“Whether it’s just some mindless act of stupidity, or just someone taking it for fun, I don’t know.”

Mrs Cantrill said the family would not be able to go out anywhere as a family because of the theft.

She said: “We can’t go out on the stroller because it’s uncomfortable for him. It wouldn’t be fair.

“We will be housebound until we get a new chair.”

Mrs Cantrill shared an appeal on Facebook in a bid to track down the buggy, and it was shared almost 7,000 times.

As a result, a wheelchair company has been in touch to offer James a new buggy in time for Christmas.

Mrs Cantrill said: “It’s been amazing. From such a bad thing that’s happened, it shows how many people are willing to help that don’t even know you.

“It’s incredible – just heartwarming.”