Hospital move for phone theft girl

The father of a nine-year-old girl who had her mobile phone stolen from her hospital room where she is receiving cancer treatment yesterday withdrew her from the hospital for her own “safety”.

Chloe Challoner has been treated for osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth since last September.

But on March 2, her Sony Walkman mobile phone, containing photos with great sentimental value for her and described as her “lifeline” to the outside world, was stolen from her private room.

Her father, Jamie Giblen, 31, of Havant, Hampshire, was so concerned by the theft that he has decided to restrict his daughter’s care to Southampton General Hospital where she has also been receiving treatment.

Mr Giblen, an IT specialist, explained that the phone contained photos of Chloe with her sister.

He said: “The worst thing is that whoever stole the phone would have known it was a children’s ward and they knew full well they were taking it from a sick child.

“This phone is of no significant value in money terms, but to my daughter and our family it has huge sentimental value.

“It is also the only way we keep in touch with our daughter when we can’t be with her at her bedside.

“I just cannot believe how someone could do this.”

Mr Giblen said Chloe was due to be returned to the Queen Alexandra Hospital this week but he had refused to allow her back.