Cold-hearted thief takes 12-year-old disabled Dagenham girl’s adapted tricycle but generous stranger comes to rescue
Mollie-Louise Glover (left) is delighted to be awarded her tricycle by singer and presenter Stacey Solomon - Credit: Archant
»A cold-hearted thief left a 12-year-old disabled girl without any “independence” after stealing her specially-adapted tricycle.
Businessman Ross Cooper came forward to pay for a new tricycle for Mollie-Louise Glover - Credit: Archant
But now a generous stranger has come to the rescue.
Mollie-Louise Glover was very upset after her trike was taken from the garden of her home in Holgate Road, Dagenham, overnight on Friday.
Aunt Emma Williams said the theft meant her independence was “completely taken away”, because Mollie has a balance and co-ordination disorder and can’t ride a normal bike.
But news of her dilemma soon spread on social networks, with singer Antony Costa, of pop group Blue, sharing an appeal for help on Twitter.
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And now businessman Ross Cooper, 32, has offered to replace the trike, valued at about £850.
Emma, who set up a Facebook group for messages of support and donations, said: “I couldn’t have financed it, nor could her family.
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“People were saying ‘how disgusting’ – it’s bad enough to get something stolen, but from a disabled child?
“We’re blown away as a family by the response that people have given us.”
The bright pink trike was locked up with a “heavy-duty chain” according to Emma, and had been customised to help the girl get about.
Mollie, who lives with her mum Claire Glover, 35, and her brother, has a rare condition called cerebellar ataxia, a disorder of the nervous system, so she has to be careful when she is walking.
She was originally presented with the trike by one of her favourite stars, Dagenham-born singer Stacey Solomon, in 2011.
Mr Cooper, of Corringham, Essex, a co-owner of telecommunications company Commsxchange, based in Brentwood, saw Facebook posts and quickly got in touch with the family.
He said: “I’ve got little kids and I read it and thought it’s quite sad.
“I was thinking about her and if she’s disabled, it would make a big difference.
“If I can help, I will.”
The original trike was funded by Dagenham pharmaceutical company Sanofi and was sourced through the Handicapped Children’s Action Group charity.
The charity is now helping by arranging an assessment to make sure Mollie’s new trike will meet her needs.
Carole Davies, 64, an administrator for the charity in Farr Avenue, Barking, said HCAG would have replaced it, but it was “great” that Mr Cooper had come forward.
She added: “She will have it replaced in time for Christmas.”
The family was told by police the trike may have been stolen for its scrap metal value.
n Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call police on 101 quoting reference 5328768/13.
