THIEVES stole money and precious photographs from an elderly woman as she lay in a hospital bed.

The two thefts, which happened within eight days, have left Margaret Challenger, aged 79, from Pershore, distressed and fearful as she remains very ill at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Her son Pete, 51, of Monks Close, Pershore, branded the culprits “the lowest of the low.” He said: “As far as I’m concerned to steal from an old person at any time is appalling but to steal something off an old lady who is very ill in a hospital bed is disgusting.

“The contempt I feel is beyond feeling or words – I don’t know how they sleep at night. It’s really affected her. She’s very down and very anxious about things.”

Mr Challenger said his mother, who has ongoing health problems, was admitted to the hospital’s medical assessment unit on Thursday, November 19, after suffering very low blood pressure. She noticed the purse, which had been in her handbag, was missing the next day.

Mr Challenger said: “They took about £40 but it wasn’t just the money.

“There were photographs of my grandad – her father – and they were irreplaceable.

“It was the only decent photograph that she’d got.

“My grandad’s dead now and it’s not like you can take any more pictures.

“Then last Saturday the same thing happened again.”

This time £10 was taken from a second purse while Mrs Challenger was on Avon ward. Mr Challenger said his family were angry the hospital did not contact police after the first theft.

He said: “I know these things go on but I’m still angry that they did not report it.”

A Worcestershire Acute Hospital NHS Trust spokeswoman said the hospital’s policy was to inform police after an initial investigation into any theft or loss by the trust’s security manager.

She added: “The Trust operates a Policy for the Safekeeping of Property under which all property is registered on arrival on a ward.

“We strongly advise patients and relatives to adhere to this policy.”

She said the trust was investigating and would speak to the Challenger family directly when its and the police’s investigations were completed.

A police spokeswoman said the thefts have been reported by both the hospital and Mr Challenger.

She added a community support officer from the Nunnery ward team had visited Mrs Challenger in hospital and sat with her to reassure her.

She said: “These thefts have obviously left the elderly lady distressed when already dealing with being in hospital for treatment.”

She urged anyone with information to contact police on 0300 333 3000 quoting 4895291109.