Charlie Brown's wheelchair was stolen from outside his Gravesend home

by Alan Watkins

A mum has branded thieves "scum" after stealing her disabled son's wheelchair days before he was due to start school.

Lianne Brown's four-year-old son Charlie cannot walk or talk, suffers from severe learning difficulties and has autism.

His specially-made mobilty wheelchair promised him a degree of freedom at Ifield School, where he is due to start in the new term.

But it was stolen from the garden of the family's home in Havengore Avenue, Gravesend.

Now Mrs Brown hopes readers can track down the six-month-old blue and black Action 3 Junior wheelchair before classes begin.

The 36-year-old said: "What low-life would steal a child's wheelchair?"

Archie and Lianne Brown with Priscila, Shannon and Charlie, four, at the spot where Charlie’s special wheelchair was stolen after it was left in the garden

Charlie had been shopping with his mum and four brothers and sisters, aged between four months and eight years, before the wheelchair went missing.

After unloading all the family and food, Mrs Brown forgot to bring in the wheelchair.

By the time she remembered late that evening, the thieves had struck.

"A neighbour's security camera shows one of them in the garden about 10.45pm," she said.

"Then a bit later two men took it and went along the street playing with it."

Unfortunately, it does not appear on any official CCTV cameras and there has been no sign of it since the wheelchair went missing on Sunday, August 19.

"what low-life would steal a child's wheelchair…?” – lianne brown

Charlie suffers from a rare disease known as chromosome 10Q26 deletion syndrome.

It means he has to be force fed and also has to wear glasses. It also leaves him the size of a two-year-old.

Local children have been promised a reward if they can find the wheelchair.
Without it, Charlie is in a difficult position.

It will take about 10 weeks for a new wheelchair to be made, leaves the family with a big bill and virtually housebound because as well as Charlie's wheelchair, the two youngest children are wheeled about in a twin pushchair.

Mrs Brown said: "Charlie is too heavy to carry far so we are having to get another pushchair.

"I hope that someone will see this, know where the wheelchair is and return it."

Police confirmed they are investigating the theft.

Inspector Tony Ramskill said: "The wheelchair has been estimated at a value of £400-£800, but its value to the boy and his family is much greater.

"The chair was purchased by the family to give their son more freedom when he begins school in September.

"I hope that anyone who has any information contacts police so we can return the wheelchair to its owners. It's a senseless act by those who clearly have no idea as to the real value this type of equipment has.'

Anyone with any information can contact officers on 101 quoting ref XY/025426/12

Anyone who knows where the wheelchair is should phone the Gravesend Messenger on 01474 564327.