Girl robbed during epileptic fit

Police want to speak to a woman seen on CCTV after the theft

A teenager had her bag stolen by a woman as she lay on the floor suffering an epileptic fit in a busy Lancashire shopping centre.

The 17-year-old girl collapsed in St George's Shopping Centre at Friargate in Preston city centre.

As she lay on the floor a woman took the girl's white carrier bag, containing about £25 worth of items.

Police have described the theft as "callous" and have issued a CCTV image of a woman they want to speak to.

Full recovery

The girl made a full recovery after the incident on Christmas Eve.

Pc Paul Brookes, of Lancashire Police, said: "For someone to steal this young lady's bag as she lay suffering from an epileptic fit displays a particular callousness.

"I would appeal for anyone who knows the lady pictured on the CCTV stills or who has any other information about this incident to get in touch with us."

The woman was described as being white, in her late 40s, of medium build, and was wearing a three-quarter length white or cream jacket and black trousers.