Bursledon: Plea to find boy's phone with photos of late dad

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Davey and his dad, DavidImage source, Vicky Hemphill
Image caption,

Nine-year-old Davey's phone, dropped in a cul-de-sac, had messages and pictures of his late dad, David

A mother is appealing for help to trace her nine-year-old son's mobile phone containing photos and messages from his dad who died recently.

Vicky Hemphill's son Davey dropped his Samsung phone on the pavement on Friday shortly after 13:45 BST in Knowlton Close, Bursledon, Hampshire.

Minutes later it was seen being picked up a man.

Ms Hemphill said the phone was "worthless" but "the things that are on the phone are irreplaceable".

Davey's dad died from heart failure at the end of last year aged 33.

Ms Hemphill said her son who had only had the phone for a few months before his father's death was "not coping well....the loss of his dad is so raw".

The family have issued an appeal on social media urging a man captured on doorbell footage who was seen picking the phone up to come forward.

'Please contact police'

The mother of two said she did not want to get Davey's hopes up of finding the phone..

"I've just told him that we will do what we can to get it back," she said.

"The things that are on the phone are irreplaceable, we cannot get more pictures or more messages."

She added after realising the phone was missing she tried calling it several times, and a short time later it was switched off.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said officers were investigating the theft of the phone in Knowlton Close that was seen to be picked up an unknown man.

The force said: "If you have this phone, or have any information that could help find it, please contact police".

The phone is described as a black Samsung Galaxy A34 in a see-through case with a Harry Potter Hedwig picture on the back.

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