A THIEF stole a “lifeline”

iPad from a disabled girl leaving her unable to communicate.

Cerebral palsy sufferer Yazmin Woodford, 13, had just left for school when a thief walked up the disabled ramp to her house to steal the gadget which was by her front door.

Unable to walk or talk, Yazmin uses the iPad constantly when she is not at school as a source of interaction.

It also has expensive apps on it which generate sentences for Yazmin to communicate with.

Her mother, Pauline Cornish, 47, said there was only a ten minute window of opportunity when it was outside the house.

She said: “It was balanced on the railings on the ramp. When she was on the bus I went back to the house with 100 things on my mind and must have just walked past it.

“Ten minutes later when my step-dad popped round I realised, ran out to get it, but it was too late.

“I was horrified because I know how much she loves it.

“As soon as they tried to turn it on they would know it was a disabled girl’s. It was in a pink case and had a photograph of her on it.

“There are loads of disabled apps on there, some we have paid £75 for, as they allow her to communicate with us. It gives her a voice.

“I work with adults with severe learning difficulties and iPads are fantastic. It has opened up a whole new world for Yazmin and enriched her life.

“I have had to borrow one, otherwise she would have been going mad wondering where it was. Without it she is upset, agitated and angry.”

Yazmin’s grandmother Jackie Davies, of Central Avenue, is desperate for the crook to find a heart and hand the iPad back.

She said: “The fact they came up the disabled ramp, and it is obvious it belongs to a disabled child – they were just brazen in taking it.

“I am so cross. That iPad is her life, she is on it from the minute she gets up. I hope this appeal pricks someone’s conscience and they bring it back or hand it to the police.”

The theft took place between 8.20am and 8.30am on Monday, October 13.

Anyone with information can call Southend police station on 101.