A DISABLED eight-year-old girl’s walking frame was stolen in a ‘sickening’ theft outside her grandmother’s home.

Katelyn Stewart wears splints on her legs and walks with a frame because of her cerebral palsy.

But after the walking aid, similar to a zimmer frame, was stolen the Darwen youngster has been unable to play with her friends.

Her mother Kelly, 28, said the theft had left her family devastated.

She said: “The frame is clearly designed for a little girl. Who would steal it? It is just the lowest of the low.

“If a child had stolen it we would have found it by now. I think someone has stolen it for scrap and that is despicable.

“We’ve not been able to get a replacement so it has made a massive impact on Katelyn’s life.”

Katelyn, who goes to Sudell Primary School and lives in Astbury Chase, said she was upset because without the frame she was not allowed to go out at playtime or in the evening with friends.

She said: “It was red and had Dora The Explorer stickers on it. I used it every single day to make sure I did not fall over.”

The theft happened outside a house in Carr Street, Darwen, on Friday, March 9, at around 7:30pm as the family were inside having just brought items inside from a shopping trip.

Kelly said: “They were only inside for five minutes. We were amazed that someone would steal it.

“I can only think that someone wanted to take it for scrap, but how much could it possibly be worth.

“It is a walking aid for a child. The lengths that people will go to to make a few pounds are appalling.

“It is very upsetting and difficult to understand.”

She said that Katelyn can still get around, but only if she has got someone’s hand to hold. She has been using the walking frame for two years, which she got through the NHS.

Cerebral palsy is a degenerative condition affecting the muscles in her legs and Katelyn is expected to need a wheelchair in the coming years.

Katelyn lives in Astbury Close with her siblings Deneca, nine, Kelsey, seven, and Mackenzie-Lee, three, along with mum Kelly and dad David Bendoris, 28.

PC Anna Gavela said: “This is a sickening crime that has left a poor girl without her walking aid. I am appalled that someone would steal this and those people responsible need to be caught.

“I would appeal to anyone who has information about this to come forward and contact the police.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Blackburn police on 101.