Pensioner appeal after purse with precious photo is stolen

Jacqueline Brierly, 73, had been enjoying a day out shopping with her friend on Tuesday, February 28, when she realised her bag was open and her purse was gone.

“It is not what you expect in Worthing,” said Jacqueline, who lives in Grand Avenue.

Originally from Lancing, Jacqueline worked as a community nurse in Brighton, Hove and Shoreham, before her and Colin retired to France, where they lived for 20 years.

The purse contained about £45 in cash and a photograph of her and Colin, her husband of 32 years who died last year. It was the last taken at their house in France.

Jacqueline, who moved back to Worthing a year and a half ago, said: “It is not the £45 it’s the purse they must have likely trashed afterwards,” she said.

While she has digital copies of the photograph, Jacqueline hates the thought of what the thief might have done with it: “It was just the thought that somebody just threw that away.”

“I felt very safe going down to the town. It has put me off at the moment, I feel very vulnerable,” she said.

Members of the public with any information should contact police on 101.