Man arrested over theft from Down's Syndrome couple

Maryanne and Tommy Pilling were out shopping when Mr Pilling's wallet was stolen

A man has been arrested after a couple with Down's Syndrome were allegedly targeted by thieves while out shopping.

Maryanne and Tommy Pilling from Shoeburyness, Essex, were in the RSPCA shop in West Road when Mr Pilling's wallet was taken.

They say they are scared to leave their home following the incident, which happened on 5 September.

A 31-year-old man from Southend is being questioned on suspicion of theft, Essex Police said.

Mrs Pilling's mother, Linda Martin, said the pair had become afraid to leave their home and enjoy a trip to the shops, which was their one piece of independence.

"In July they celebrated 20 years of marriage. And now this has come along - and I really don't know how they're going to recover from this," she said.

"It's not the fact of money, it's what they've taken away."

Linda Martin, Mrs Pilling's mother, said she did not know how the couple would recover

Mrs Martin said it was not the first time her daughter and her husband, for whom she acts as a carer, may have been targeted.

"They were stoned in the street by a group of young kids a few years back.

"Maryanne became a recluse and had panic attacks, she ended up in hospital. It's taken a long time to get her back to where she was."

An Essex Police spokeswoman said officers were still trying to looking for a man in connection with the incident.