Mother begs man to return son’s 'irreplaceable' stolen phone

On Friday, May 10, nine-year-old Davey accidentally left the mobile on the pavement outside his home on Knowlton Close, Bursledon when he was picked up by his aunt.

After realising that he had lost it, Davey’s mother, Vicky Hemphill, 30, rewatched her ring doorbell footage to see if it would yield any clues.

What she saw surprised her: Davey left the mobile on the pavement at 1.56pm - and around 10 minutes later it was picked up by a man they did not know as he walked past.

Davey’s phone contains the final pictures and messages between the young boy and his late father David, who passed away from heart failure aged 33 in December last year.

Vicky and her 9-year-old son Davey (Image: Submitted)Vicky said: “The phone was not backed-up and had the final messages between Davey and his dad.

“These were irreplaceable to him. The loss of his dad has been exceptionally difficult for him and to lose the last memories is just awful.

“He should have been able to cherish these pictures and messages forever – now someone has taken that from him.

“Davey is distraught. It’s been so hard for him.”

The mother-of-two is now desperately pleading that the man who picked up the phone returns it to the family or hands it to the police.

She continued: “We tried to call the phone a number of times before it was switched off.

“I don't want any punishment for the man who took the phone – I just want my son to have the last memories of his dad.

“To the man who has my son’s phone: there doesn't have to be any conversation, you are free to walk away like it never happened.”

A spokesperson for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary added: “Police are investigating the theft of a mobile phone in Southampton. The phone, which was in Knowlton Close, was seen to be picked up an unknown man.

“If you have this phone, or have any information that could help find it, please contact police online or on 101 quoting 44240201902.”