A disabled man has been left devastated by the theft of his beloved pet dog.

Leysdown resident Kiean Hope has special needs and suffers from serious medical conditions, including epilepsy and autism.

The 39-year-old has a mental age of five or six.

He was given a Cavalier King Charles spaniel puppy called Maisey for Christmas but at about 10pm on Sunday, January 15, she was stolen from his front garden in Manor Way.

The 39-year-old previously had a labrador which died in September, which would bark when he suffered a seizure.

Kiean’s sister Amanda Oram-Hope said: “My mum cares for him full-time and when he was given Maisey he was doing really well.

“He was taking on responsibility and it gave him something positive to focus on.

“He’s been totally lost without her and he’s been fitting in the night more too.”

The garden at the home he shares with 65-year-old mum Pamela Hope is small, with a patio area surrounded by a solid gate and 3ft wall.

Amanda said: “Mum really didn’t like to let Maisey out at night.

“She let her out for a wee and watched her carefully but Kiean got into difficulty in the bathroom so she had to leave her alone.

“He’s been totally lost without her" - Amanda Oram-Hope

“She must have been gone for no more than three minutes and when she came back the dog was gone.”

Since the puppy was stolen, the family have put posters up locally appealing for help.

They had a bogus caller demanding ransom money but nothing came of this after a photo proving he had the animal wasn’t received.

According to his sister, Mr Hope has been getting very agitated and is in a “sorry state” since Maisey was taken.

She added: “We’re going to have to get a new one. She had such a calming effect on him – everything was about the dog.”

Maisey had been chipped and neutered and the family are offering a reward for her safe return.

Police are investigating. Anyone with information should call 101 and quote reference XY/2317/17.