Precious memories of mum spoilt by thieves

Steve, 22, had the snare drum and cymbals stolen from his Honda Civic as it sat outside his dad Keith's house in The Estuary at around 3.30am on August 21.

Thieves smashed a window in the car and took the equipment, along with a guitar, laptop computer and CDs, worth almost 2,000 in total.

When Steve's mother Valerie was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in March, 2004, she offered to buy Steve and his sister Kirsten special gifts to remember her by.

Steve, a keen musician, who is currently studying at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music, chose a drum kit that he hoped would last him a lifetime and help him remember his mum every time he played it.

The custom-built Premier kit cost thousands of pounds and Steve used it to play with his Brighton-based band Daze One, who last year won the Southern FM Battle of the Bands competition.

Sadly, Valerie died on July 26, and still reeling from this expected but tragic loss Steve was then dealt a double blow as the snare drum and five Zildjian cymbals were stolen.

"My dad burst into my room on the Monday morning and woke me up to say that my car had been broken into," said Steve. "I was gutted. It was such a sinking feeling and being so close to my mum passing away made it worse.

"She had offered to buy me the kit as a special going away present and for it to be taken away from me so close to her death is sickening."

Steve, who also volunteers as a youth worker at Littlehampton Community School youth wing, is currently using borrowed equipment for his gigs with Daze One.

Their next gig is on Saturday night at East in Worthing.

"The snare drum is easily identifiable because of its shimmering blue colour which I've not seen on another kit," said Steve. "If anybody can help please call the police.

"Even if I get a replacement it won't be the same one my mum bought for me."