THE mother of a teenager with cerebral palsy has appealed for thieves to stop targeting his specially-adapted car.

James Wright, 15, who attends Oak View School in Loughton, spends most of his time in a wheelchair and needs the Renault Kangoo to get to hospital appointments, go shopping and visit relatives with his mother Karen Wright.

But the car is currently out of action after the number plates were stolen on Saturday night, while it was parked in a disabled bay near their home in Millfield, High Ongar.

Mrs Wright, 53, who lives alone with James and cares for him full-time, said: “The van is our lifeline. High Ongar is fairly remote, so to get around, we use the car.

“I just wanted it to be known and appeal to whoever is targeting us, that my son is severely brain damaged, and for me it is a round the clock job caring for him.” 

The car, which is parked in a spot away from homes in Millfield so Mrs Wright can get James’ wheelchair into the back of it, has also had the tax disc stolen from it in the past.

“It’s easier for me to have the disabled bay slightly up the road,” she said. “This makes it easier for thieves under the cover of darkness, but that’s the only place we can park.

“The bay says ‘disabled’ in big white letters and there are stickers on the car – it couldn’t be more obvious.

“They’re making it so difficult for us.”

The charity Motability, which supplies the car, is arranging for new number plates to be fixed to the car, but Mrs Wright is now worried they could be used in crimes such as fuel theft.

Vehicles used by a disabled person are also exempt from the London Congestion Charge.

The stolen plates bear the registration number LX08 HGZ. Witnesses should call Ongar police station on 101.