A DISABLED woman had thousands of pounds in jewellery and cash stolen by a man she met online while she was having heart surgery.

Brenda White, 54, from Laindon, had been dating the man for a few weeks when she went in for heart surgery.

Brenda suffers with an enlarged heart and an irregular heartbeat and had to go into hospital.

At around midday on the day of the procedure, Brenda left her then partner, who she had been with for five weeks, in her home.

She returned from hospital to find valuable jewellery, including rings, necklaces and bracelets stolen, which had been gifts from her family.

Her Christmas savings had also gone.

Brenda had managed to save about a thousand pounds for her family but all of this was gone, as was the man she had met.

Brenda said: “I’m still in a lot of pain and discomfort from the surgery and from this theft.

“I’m really upset and finding it hard to sleep at night.

“I feel really betrayed, what kind of scum does that to their girlfriend while they’re in hospital.

“Hatred is all I feel towards him now.

“I want him found and caught by the police.

“They can put him away and throw the key for all I care.

“I don’t want this to happen to anyone else and I want him found.”

Daughter Stacy Emery, 26, from Laindon, said: “I’m gobsmacked and in total disbelief.

“It’s awful seeing my mum going through such a thing.

“It’s heart wrenching knowing there is nothing I can do to help.

“The jewellery is absolutely irreplaceable to her and I just hope they find who did this.”

A spokesman for Essex Police added: “We are investigating reports of a theft from an address on Parsonage Lane, Laindon around 3.30pm on Wednesday, November 7.

“Cash and items of jewellery were reported to have been stolen.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact the Basildon Local Policing team on 101, quoting reference 42/1631158/18.”

Brenda was in hospital to have a loop recorder placed under the skin of her chest.

This was completed under local anaesthetic and records electrical activity.

She has also had her home customised with facilities like a wet room and stairlift due to problems with her spine and to help her with her disability.

In the future her mobility is set to decrease and she fears she will need a wheelchair.

She met the man on Meet Me, a website to find friends. She has passed details about what she knew about the man she had been seeing to the police.