Special needs boy falls silent after theft of pedigree puppy

Liam Hainsworth, four, had never spoken a word until his grandfather bought him the pug called Milie for his birthday in February.

His tiny companion inspired Liam to form the word "dog" after three months of trying. But since the four-month-old puppy was snatched from the garden of his home in Bradford on Monday the little boy has not spoken a word. Liam suffers from global developmental delay, a condition that affects language and movement development.

His mother Aimee, 24, said: "Liam has been absolutely distraught. Straight after she was taken he started looking around for her but it was the next morning it really hit him. He would normally take Milie for a walk but when he couldn't find her he started screaming, stamping his feet and banging on things.

"Now he has just completely gone back into his shell. He's not even tried to say any words since she went missing and he has started having tantrums again.

"He'd never even tried to say any words before he got her, but then he began to say 'dog' and it was just amazing."

Liam struggles to walk up stairs on his own, can understand only very basic instructions and still has to wear nappies.

His grandfather Thomas Hainsworth, 58, saved up 900 from his pension to buy Liam the puppy as a companion, because his condition means he does not like to interact with other children.

A police spokesman said: "Police are treating this as theft and investigations are ongoing."