Callous thieves ruin the Christmas of disabled Leeds 16-month-old after ransacking home

Minnie-mae Farnell suffers from brain damage, epilepsy and muscle stiffness among a host of other disabilities.

Her mum Courtney took her for a short drive away from their home in Morley at around midnight as she wouldn't settle for bed.

However, less than 30 minutes later on the family's return, they discovered their home had been burgled.

Presents including a brand new Xbox had been stolen from their home, with belongings strewn across the living room.

Courtney - who is Minne-mae's full time carer - said the family had been left with "nothing".

Courtney, speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, said: "Minnie was very unsettled and every now and then when she won’t settle we take her for a little drive.

"At 12am we left, we were back at 12:29am and Andrew [my partner] said to me “Courtney we’ve been burgled”.

"I laughed it off thinking he was joking and as I started walking in with Minnie-mae in my arms and I could see all my belongings all rummaged through.

"It hit that that I had been burgled."

Courtney said she began to notice very quickly how much had been taken.

She added: "My partner bought me the brand new Xbox for Christmas.

"I’m a full time carer for my severely disabled daughter who has cmv, brain damage, epilepsy, muscle stiffness and much more, the Xbox is my break, the only thing I had to do with this lockdown.

"It had gone, I’d had it a week.

"The head sets gone, Xbox pads, my Xbox one, playstation 4, tablets, laptops, a brand new camera I had a day.

"But most of all my disabled child’s Christmas presents.

"Everything was gone through.

"My sentimental thing for Minnie was ripped.

"Everything rummaged through.

"I have nothing left."

Courtney was told by friends to set up a GoFundMe page to help replace the stolen items.

The Leeds community have come together and more than £1,500 has been raised at the time of writing.

Courtney added: "With being a full time carer for Minnie I don’t have much of an income to replace it all and a few people mentioned go fund me page so I set one up and it has gone amazing.

"I am so grateful for everything, every donation message and gifts.

"The love is over whelming and I hope my daughter's Christmas will be just as good.

"I’m so sad people can just do that to your home.

"It’s vile.

"I feel like this isn’t even my home anymore.

"My partner daughter and me did nothing to deserve this."

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