A MUM has blasted heartless thieves who swiped her five-year-old's wheelchair ramp before flogging it on Facebook.

       Little Harley could have been left housebound after the shocking theft in the early hours of Saturday morning.

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       Vile thieves pinched a five-year-old's wheelchair ramp - before a good Samaritan brought it back Credit: Evening Gazette

       But in amazing twist, a good Samaritan who bought the ramp on social media on Monday handed it back as soon as she realised it had been stolen.

       Mum-of-three Natalie Roberts, 28, is a full-time carer for Harley, who suffers with cerebral palsy and has trouble walking.

       The youngster, who is still recovering from complex surgery carried out last May to help improve his mobility, needs the ramp to get in and out of the house.

       Without it, he has to be carried about every time he and his mum want to leave the house.

       Natalie told Teesside Live she was devastated to find the ramp missing after it was stolen at 3.40am on Saturday.

       "It's not that they have just taken a ramp away, they have taken his independence away," she said.

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       "He's just a five-year-old child."

       After reporting the theft to Cleveland Police, Natalie posted about it on social media.

       She was then contacted by a woman who bought it for ￡40 from Facebook Marketplace.

       The kind-hearted stranger quickly returned the ramp to Harley.

       Natalie, of Stockton in County Durham, said: "It was really nice of them to buy it and return it and it is now back at the house.

       "But the thieves have still got what they wanted.

       "It's appalling what they have done and I still hope the police can do something about it.

       "These people should not be allowed to walk the streets."

       Cleveland Police have confirmed they are investigating the theft.

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       Mum-of-three Natalie says she was devastated to find Harley's ramp gone Credit: Evening Gazette

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