A WOMAN from Rhyl said she felt “violated” and “really upset” to find that her son’s blue disabled badge had been stolen from her car while it was parked in Manchester last weekend.

Kathryn McDermott left her vehicle in the National Car Parks (NCP)-operated Manchester Central car park overnight on January 13 while she, her friend and her daughter went to watch a musical.

She has a blue badge on her car because her 11-year-old son, Logan, suffers from Apert syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes fusion of the skull, hands, and feet bones.

READ MORE:

‘Serious expressions of interest’ in Pontins Prestatyn, MP says

Sadness as record label's weekender event at Prestatyn Sands cancelled

Rhyl woman who died at Glan Clwyd was victim of ‘clear breach of duty’

But despite Logan not being on the Manchester trip, the car not being parked in a disabled space, and Kathryn not having the blue badge clearly on display, a vehicle window was smashed and the badge was taken.

The badge also had a photo of Logan on it, as well as all of his personal details.

Kathryn described the incident as a “horrendous ordeal”, and urged other blue badge holders to take extra caution, adding that she will no longer drive into city centres.

She said: “After a fabulous afternoon and evening we returned to the car on Sunday morning (January 14) to find my driver’s window smashed to smithereens and my son’s blue badge stolen.

“Nothing else was taken out of my car - there was a bottle of Prosecco on the back seat and they didn’t even take that. As soon as I realised that my blue badge had been stolen, I broke down in tears.

“It makes me sick to my stomach that someone has my son’s picture and his personal details, and that thieves think that this is OK to deprive him of a much-needed necessity that enables him to go out.”

To date, Kathryn said, Logan has had 39 surgeries, 10 of which have been on his skull, while he attends Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool on a monthly basis, at least.

His condition means he also suffers from breathing and eating difficulties, and struggles to walk far without becoming tired.

Kathryn reported the matter to Greater Manchester Police, but has incurred costs for having her car window and blue badge replaced.

While the car is being replaced, she has kindly been provided with a temporary vehicle courtesy of Motability, a charity helping disabled people and their families or carers to lease a new car.

She also expressed her disappointment in NCP’s response when she informed the company of what had transpired.

Kathryn added: “I explained to NCP that I had parked in the secure car park and paid a hefty fee to ensure my car’s safety, and wanted to get the amount back that I’d paid out.

“However, their response was: ‘I’m sorry; please refer to our terms and conditions where you will see we take no responsibility for any vehicles parked in our car park’.

“In all honesty, I may as well have parked it in the middle of the town centre. Would my car have been any safer as it was in broad daylight, or in view of other people?

“It has really upset me, and I feel really violated that somebody’s had their hands in my car and stolen my son’s blue badge.

“It’s really scary that blue badges are being stolen, all because of the cost of living crisis, I believe.”

In response, NCP apologised for the distress that this incident has caused Kathryn.

A NCP spokesperson said: “We are so sorry that a customer has experienced antisocial behaviour when parking with us recently. 

“We have completed a refund on her parking costs, but unfortunately, NCP is unable to accept liability for criminal damage to a customer’s vehicle or contents, and our terms and conditions on parking confirm this.

“Our car parks are publicly accessible and therefore people who are not our customers can gain access. 

“Our team work hard to discourage said individuals entering our car parks, and we do have regular site patrols which take place. 

“In order to deter criminals from finding reasons to enter our car parks, we advise customers to follow police advice and always remove valuables from their vehicles.

“Our team work with the local police team where possible to assist in deterring such occurrences.

“In this area, for example, our team hold regular monthly meetings with the Greater Manchester Police to discuss all antisocial behaviour throughout our sites, and how we can work jointly and proactively to try to reduce incidents within our car parks.”