Tears turn to smiles as new gifts pour in for Brighton boy (From The Argus)

Tears turn to smiles as new gifts pour in for Brighton boy

12:30pm Friday 21st November 2008 in

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The family of a young boy whose birthday presents were stolen from his party have been overwhelmed by the response from the public.

Gifts and cheques have poured in for four-year-old Owen Ellison- Bryant from people touched by his story.

The Argus reported last week how he had been left in tears wearing his favourite Power Rangers outfit when a bag full of his unopened gifts was snatched from the party.

Since then readers, as well as friends and family, have gone out of their way to make up for the loss.

Little Owen has even got back some of the original presents after they were anonymously handed in at Brighton police station in John Street.

Owen’s mum Melissa Ellison, 23, said: “We're really grateful to everyone.

People have been so kind after what happened.”

She said a plastic bag containing nine of the original presents had been handed in to the police. They had all been opened and Miss Ellison said some of the gifts were missing, along with cards and money she knew had been with them.

The bag stolen from the party had been filled with presents and cards from 30 guests. Owen’s family were keeping them for him to open later.

Miss Ellison, of Angmering Court, in Newick Road, Brighton, said: “It’s nice for him to have some of the presents back but we’re still upset about what happened. We had to rewrap these for him and he recognised that some weren’t there and the paper was different.

“We still want the police to catch whoever did it.”

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said it was continuing to follow leads, including a bank receipt found in the bag which was handed in.

The party was held in the hall of St Martin’s Catholic Church in Lewes Road, Brighton. Miss Ellison said the priest Canon Beaumont Brandie had refunded her the hire fee out of sympathy. Several friends and family who were at the party had bought the same presents again and Owen’s great-grandmother gave him £20.

The family said they were particularly grateful to one Argus reader who sent them a cheque for £10.