A THIEF has stolen a severely disabled woman's lifeline to the world.

Jacqui Peacock, 32, has a severe form of cerebral palsy and cannot speak, relying for communication on a talking computer, similar to the one used by physicist Professor Stephen Hawking, and mobile phone text messaging.

Despite being confined to a motorised wheelchair Ms Peacock, of Horden, east Durham, leads an independent life and is well known in the former pit village.

But she has been left devastated after a teenager, thought to be about 14, stole her £150 Nokia 6510 phone.

It happened at about 4.15pm on Sunday in Horden's Memorial Park, as she was heading to her mother's.

The thief asked for the time, before taking the phone from her lap.

Ms Peacock's mother, Margaret Jones, said: "The phone is her lifeline. She doesn't speak, she texts. She texts to let us know where she is or if she needs picking up."

Mrs Jones said the family faced having to buy a new phone because the insurance on it had run out.

The stolen phone cannot be used by the thief because it was disabled by the network within an hour of the theft being reported.

Local beat officer PC Nigel Dowd said: "This was a shocking crime and it is awful to think someone so clearly disabled should be targeted in this way.''

The thief is said to be about 5ft, average build, and wearing a grey jumper and black and orange woolly hat. He has a local accent.

Anyone with information is asked to call police, on 0191-586 2621, or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.