Mum's disgust at thieves who stole disabled trollies from Sheffield Asda

Gemma Vicary relies on the customised trolleys provided at the Drakehouse Asda in Beighton Road East when she goes shopping with her son Rio.

The six-year-old suffers from Angelman syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes problems with speaking, balancing and walking.

On Thursday Gemma, 32, from Gleadless Townend, made her weekly trip to the supermarket, but the disabled trollies were nowhere to be seen. When she spoke to staff, she was told they had been stolen.

Speaking that afternoon, she said: "I'm totally stuck. I could cry, I'm that angry.

"When you have got a child who can't walk and can't sit in a normal trolley, the disabled trollies are lifesaving."

Gemma was told the trollies were stolen by 'a couple of girls', and the theft had been reported to police.

She said she couldn't understand why anyone would steal something so obviously designed to help people in need.

"I'm livid that someone could do it," she said. "It's disgusting. People don't realise how much hard work it is doing normal things with a disabled child.

"For me it's a massive thing. I can't come shopping without those trollies."

An Asda spokesman said: “We’re sorry to our customers for any inconvenience caused and we understand how important these kinds of trollies are.

"We are waiting on the arrival of new trollies to replace the ones that have been stolen but if any customer does require any assistance while they are in-store, our colleagues will be more than happy to help.”

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