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Metal thieves target terminally-ill woman

Jan 8 2012 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

Sarah Houghton with husband Jonny

A TERMINALLY-ILL woman has branded metal thieves who stole building parts needed for her new home as “scumbags”.

Cystic Fibrosis sufferer Sarah Houghton, 29, was left devastated last summer when doctors gave her just two years to live as her body can no longer fight the condition.

Desperate to help, her parents Alan and Hilary set about building an extension onto their home, where Sarah can get round-the-clock care from the couple and her husband Jonny.

But cruel thieves have broken into the garden of the house, in Kenton, Newcastle, and snatched a £1,500 boiler and all metal piping needed for the extension.

She’ll still be able to move into her new home in a months time, but there’ll be no heat or hot water until the family find the funds to buy another boiler.

Last night, Sarah appealed for help to trace the people who carried out the heartless crime.

She said: “I can't believe people would be so desperate as to pinch materials for an extension.

“I only hope they see the story and have a think about what they have done, and maybe it will make others like them think twice. My dad saw a pick-up truck driving off on Tuesday morning but his car wasn’t here for him to go after them.

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