‘Scumbags’ break into car at Royal Angus car park – as baby undergoes major surgery at Birmingham Children’s Hospital

“Scumbags” broke into a couple’s car after they parked near Birmingham Children’s Hospital as their baby underwent major surgery.

Medical details relating to the care of 14-week-old Hadleigh Davies were taken along with a special bag that can be heated inside the vehicle to keep fluids warm.

The Nissan X-Trail was targeted at Royal Angus NCP car park on the night of Saturday, February 8.

Hadleigh’s grandfather, Mel Davies, lent his son Calwyn and partner Kristy the car to make their journey from their South Wales home more comfortable.

Mel said: “Hopefully these scumbags are caught and don’t cause any other family the kind of distress that we have had.

“We have had a really heartwarming response from the people of Birmingham and from NCP themselves – and everyone says what a fantastic centre Birmingham Children’s Hospital is. The medical care has been first class.”

Hadleigh needs several major head operations so his brain will have room to grow inside his skull, which fused together during a difficult birth.

But with his hearing and eyesight described as ‘excellent’, his family are braced for many return trips to Birmingham from their home near Newport to put him on the road to a good quality of life in the future.

Anyone who finds the bag and / or medical correspondence is asked to either return it to Birmingham Children’s Hospital reception or to telephone them.

What happened to the car?

The X-Trail was parked on the ground floor of the Royal Angus car park, about six spaces up from the entrance.

A window was broken and the bag, medical correspondence and other items including a pair of trainers were stolen.

The family said they were told on site there had been a break in on the night of Saturday, February 8.

NCP said its record of a break-in was noted on Sunday, February 9.

The Royal Angus car park has 600 spaces.

Its standard 24-hour rate is £30, but NCP members can pay less than that, especially at weekends.

Children’s Hospital visitors can also benefit, although those reduced rates are not advertised online.

The family said they were so concerned about Hadleigh they were not able to spent time reading information about that either at the car park or in the hospital itself.

The NCP website which says: “Birmingham Royal Angus car park’s convenient city centre location puts you within easy walking distance of Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Snow Hill station. Whether you’re visiting the city for a day’s sightseeing or staying longer, car parking in Birmingham is easy and hassle-free, thanks to the Royal Angus.

“It’s near popular hotels like Holiday Inn Express Snow Hill, Thistle and The Royal Angus too, making it ideal for business travellers attending conferences and meetings at these exclusive locations.

What the family said

Mel said lent Calwyn and Kristy his X Trail to make their journey more comfortable.

“They came up for what they expect will be the first of five major operations that Hadleigh will need – one every six months,” said Mel.

“Although they had dark windows, they had left the heatable bag on the back seat.

“It has a heating element which you plug into a car’s cigarette lighter to keep drinks warm.

“Hadleigh’s parents were staying at the Ronald McDonald facility at the hospital, so just across the road from the car.”

Mel, a railway industry lifting engineer, added: “They are not bothered about the return of his bottles or Calwyn’s trainers etc, but they would like the heatable bag and Hadliegh’s medical notes returned because they are facing a ten-year journey of coming back and forth to the Children’s Hospital.”

What NCP said

NCP regional manager Brian Devonshire – who is himself based in South Wales – said he was very sorry to hear of the family’s trauma.

On February 1, BirminghamLive detailed how we had accompanied Brian on a tour of several NCP car parks on the back of a half-million pound investment in security across its city centre site.

Brian told us then: “Last year we had 1.5m customers and 37 break-in which works at 0.00003 per cent.

“We had a spate of break ins at one site, but that person has been jailed.”

After learning of the plight of Hadleigh’s family’s, Brian immediately called Mel to reassure him.

Brian said: “I have spoken to Mel and said we will cover the cost of the bag if it’s not returned and the next time the family come up for future operations we will look after them.”

Mel said: “NCP’s response was awesome.

“They told me it was only the second incident they had had at any car park in three months and obviously would like that to be zero.

“Brian was very apologetic and said NCP would pay for our parking when we come back.

“We are delighted with that.”