'Despicable' thieves burgle Sheffield boy's home as he lies unconscious in hospital following crash

'Despicable' thieves burgled a Sheffield boy's home as he lay unconscious in hospital battling to recover from a horrific crash.
Lewis Parkin sustained a fractured skull and neck, and two broken legs, among other injuries, in the crashLewis Parkin sustained a fractured skull and neck, and two broken legs, among other injuries, in the crash
Lewis Parkin sustained a fractured skull and neck, and two broken legs, among other injuries, in the crash

Lewis Parkin, aged 12, was involved in a collision with a taxi as he crossed the road in Parson Cross last Wednesday, January 11.

The Chaucer School student remained in an induced coma in intensive care yesterday, with a fractured skull and neck, two broken legs, a shattered jaw and bleeding to the brain.

Police at the scene of the crash in Buchanan RoadPolice at the scene of the crash in Buchanan Road
Police at the scene of the crash in Buchanan Road
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His family's trauma was compounded as burglars broke into the youngster's home and stole his prized possessions, including an XBox One he had been given for Christmas.

Lewis' grandmother Debbie Clark said: "We're absolutely devastated. that someone could stoop this low and do something so despicable."

"We believe it was someone who knew the situation, because the house is very rarely left unoccupied normally, which makes it even harder to accept.

"It's not the monetary loss which upsets us, as the items can be replaced. It's the fact whoever did this has no human decency.

Police at the scene of the crash in Buchanan RoadPolice at the scene of the crash in Buchanan Road
Police at the scene of the crash in Buchanan Road
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"If anyone knows anything or is offered any goods they think may have been stolen, we would urge them to contact police so they can catch whoever did this."

Ms Clark said Lewis' mother Katie Fields, who has three other children, has spent every moment at his bedside since the awful smash in Buchanan Road, near Parson Cross Park.

This is the latest tragedy to hit the family, after Lewis' younger brother Sam died suddenly two years ago, aged seven, from complications arising from rheumatoid arthritis.

"It's been a never ending story of misery for a lass who's still quite young herself. It's just wrong," said Katie's mother.

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Ms Clark said crooks had broken into her daughter's home in Old School Drive, Parson Cross, some time between last Thursday and Saturday evening, when the crime was discovered.

As well as the Xbox and other items, she said their loot included Lewis' red mini laptop and a flatscreen TV belonging to the youngster.

"Katie's a single mum and she's a carer for the elderly so everything they get has been worked for really hard," said Ms Clark.

On a positive note, Lewis' grandmother said she had been cheered by the 'amazing reaction' after sharing news of the burglary on Facebook, with one big-hearted child even offering to donate his own games console to her grandson.

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South Yorkshire Police have appealed for information about the burglary.

They said 'persons unknown' had forced entry into the property, causing damage and taking a number of electrical items, between last Thursday, January 12, at 3pm, and Saturday, January 14, at 4pm.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or email [email protected], quoting the incident number 336 of January 15 in relation to the burglary, or incident number 631 of 11 January 11 in connection with the crash.