Stolen items help disabled girl

A severely disabled five-year-old girl is enjoying a more comfortable night's sleep thanks to help from Kent Police.

Sorrell Wooton, from Ashford, was born with brain damage and needed a new bed with lifting mechanisms and safety rails at a cost of more than £5,000.

Her parents appealed to charities asking for help and were "amazed" when the force offered to pay for it.

The money was raised from unclaimed stolen property which was sold and then donated to good causes.

Genetic condition

Ashford's Supt Daniel Murphy said: "It's always nice to be able to take property that has come to us in unfortunate circumstances and turn it into something fortunate."

He said the force had chosen to help Sorrell because of her parents' determination and drive to give their daughter a better future.

Sorrell was left brain damaged as a result of an undiagnosed genetic condition.

She has cerebral palsy, behavioural and learning difficulties and cannot swallow.

Her mother Sarah said Sorrell was constantly falling out of bed because she has no sense of fear or danger.

But the new bed has high bars to protect her and moves up and down to help relieve her heart and breathing problems.

Graham Wooten said the couple were humbled by the generous donation.

"It's fantastic. I can't speak highly enough of the force for contributing it to us. It's tremendous."