Good Samaritan offers to pay for NHS worker’s damaged car
Pregnant NHS worker who broke down in tears when thieves stole maternity clothes from her car says she could ‘cry with happiness’ after stranger contacts her out of the blue to offer to cover the cost
- Becky Jones has been working during the pandemic at Nottingham City Hospital
- She is a clinical biochemist who is responsible for the coronavirus blood tests
- On Saturday her day was ruined when thieves smashed into her black Audi A1
- An anonymous man has offered to pay for the damage and replace the dresses
By Darren Boyle for MailOnline
Published: 17:25 EDT, 14 July 2020 | Updated: 18:13 EDT, 14 July 2020
Becky Jones broke down in tears after three maternity dresses were stolen
A stranger has offered to pay for the damage to a pregnant NHS worker’s car which was damaged as she was out for dinner with her boyfriend.
Becky Jones, 30, from Newark, Nottinghamshire recorded a tearful message after someone broke into her car and stole several maternity dresses she had purchased earlier.
Ms Jones, who is a clinical biochemist, has been working at Nottingham City Hospital performing vital Covid-19 tests during the pandemic.
She looks for any ‘abnormalities’ in patients blood and urine tests including those who have been diagnosed with coronavirus.
But when she decided to go shopping and for a meal with her boyfriend in Nottingham city centre on Saturday, July 12, her day was ruined when thieves smashed into her black Audi A1.
They hammered through the passenger window, rummaged through the boot, and stole three maternity dresses she had bought for work, gym clothes and headphones.
However, Ms Jones, who is 23 weeks pregnant, received a message over Facebook from a fellow NHS worker who offered to pay for the damage and the stolen maternity clothes.
She said she could have ‘cried with happiness’ following the gesture which has restored her faith in human nature.
According to the BBC, the man wrote: ‘My family are all hard-working and dedicated members of the NHS similar to yourself.
‘I personally think you are are all utterly amazing unsung heroes for everything you do, not just during this Covid crisis.
‘I would like to cover the price of the replacement window and the maternity clothes so hopefully it restores your feelings that there are some good people out here in the world.
‘I just think heroes like you might need a helping hand from time to time.’
Ms Jones responded: ‘I’m not even bothered about replacing the window or the clothes, just the fact that he said what I was doing was really brave and that he was willing to pay for it.
‘That’s made all the difference.’
Thieves smashed the window of Ms Jones car and stole the three dresses on Saturday
In total, around £500 of items were taken. She told Nottinghamshire Live: ‘I was absolutely gutted. I can’t even put it into words. I felt violated. I have been going into work every day and I am pregnant.
‘It is not just me that is at risk, it is the baby as well. I bought these clothes so I could go to work and I have been trying to keep fit and then for someone to take advantage like that.
‘My NHS badge was left on the seat and they would have known that.’
The incident happened at the Nottingham Arena (Brook Street) Car Park between 7.30pm and 8.30pm while the couple were enjoying a meal at Sexy Mamma Love Spaghetti in Hockley.
She returned to her vehicle to find her gym leggings and the rest of her gym bag sprawled across the car park floor.
She said: ‘It’s caused a lot of distress and I’m 23 weeks pregnant.
The NHS worker was out with her boyfriend, Kyle Farrow, in Nottingham city centre when the incident happened
‘I’m sickened and saddened by what has happened. I can’t go into work because I need to contact the garage and insurance about the damage to my car.
‘I have to think it is just possessions and I have got my health.
‘But I would like to see someone put to account for it.’
She was so devastated by what happened she put out a video on social media.
Fighting through tears, she said: ‘Whilst I have been going to work throughout this pandemic – and even though I’m pregnant – it is good to know there are still people out there who will take advantage of people like me – and take things that I have bought myself – on my weekend off.
‘Thank you. You really are the Pride of Britain.’
A black cap was left behind by the thief which will be examined by forensics and CCTV of the car park is set to be checked yesterday.
Chief Inspector Kathryn Craner from Nottinghamshire Police said: ‘We believe that people should be able to visit Nottingham city centre without the fear of criminals targeting them or their possessions while they are busy going about their business.
‘That is exactly why we take incidents of this nature so seriously and, as has been the case here, why we will actively investigate reports of this kind as soon as possible to give our officers the best possible chance of identifying those responsible and, hopefully, reunite the victims with their stolen items.
‘I would appeal to anyone with any information to call Nottinghamshire
Police as soon as possible on 101, quoting incident number 739 of 11 July when they call.’
