Professor's stolen laptop appeal

A leading professor in child psychology is appealing for a laptop computer containing years of work to be returned after it was stolen along with her car.

The car, with the computer inside, was stolen from outside the Claremont Terrace office of Newcastle University professor Ann Le Couteur on Friday.

She said she had left the keys in the blue Ford Focus car for a few seconds.

The laptop contained vital work, such as documents for an international autism conference next week.

Prof Le Couteur said: "The laptop is crucial because it has all my lectures, the PowerPoint slides, as well as other documents on it.

Black briefcase

"I am due to speak at the National Autistic Society international conference in 10 days' time and one in Harrogate in 12 days' time.

"Unfortunately my memory stick is also in the briefcase with the laptop because I was bringing it home to finalise the preparations for all these lectures."

The car registration number is NG52 PAO.

The silver Sony laptop was in a black briefcase and contains lectures on autism and treatment of children, but it does not contain any clinical details.

Prof Le Couteur said: "I would like my car back, but the laptop is the most important thing.

"It is not going to be of use to anyone else but it would just be so good for me if it could be returned."