A heartbroken husband is asking thieves to return a stolen computer containing the last photos of his dead wife.

Sasha Spinelli, of The Course, Lewes, was killed when a lorry driver fell asleep at the wheel and smashed into her Nissan Micra.

Her son, Lio, four at the time, also suffered horrific injuries in the crash, including brain damage.

Martin Spinelli is now offering a £500 "no questions asked" reward for a laptop containing the last pictures of his son and wife together, after it was stolen on Friday.

The HP Pavilion 1240 computer held all the research the 39-year-old lecturer at the University of Sussex had compiled on operations his son desperately needs.

But pictures of Lio and his mother playing, as well as holiday snaps from family vacations in Italy and France, have also been lost.

Mr Spinelli said losing them felt like "losing Sasha all over again". He said: "They are the last photos of Lio and his mother together and obviously as he grows up they are going to be priceless to him.

"They are one solid link to his mother. They are all we have left of that period in our lives, which was a beautiful period, a beautiful time. I'm not going to go to the police. I just want that laptop back."

Mr Spinelli had been out shopping for a new car that could take Lio's wheelchair when he was burgled last Friday, between 3.30pm and 6.30pm.

He said: "I ran upstairs straight away to check on the computer and it was gone. My heart sank.

"I'm hopeful that the people who did this will be struck by their conscience and bring it back. The one thing I don't want is for them to panic and throw it away. Just bring it back, I'll give them the money and we'll both be happy.

"It has been tremendously difficult. It's like losing Sasha all over again."

Lio, who turned five on Boxing Day, was described as "an exceptional boy" who could speak four languages before the smash on September 7 last year.

It occurred when Mrs Spinelli had parked on the hard shoulder of the M2 in Kent.

A Belgian lorry driver, who had fallen asleep, veered into the lane, ploughing into the back of the car and sending it flying into the air, killing Mrs Spinelli. Lio now spends much of his week in physical and psychological therapy.

Mr Spinelli said: "Lio suffered severe brain injuries and he's got a horrendously badly broken femur. He's made a tremendous recovery. Much better than anyone expected.

"But he's had several operations on his left leg and he's going to need several more. They may even have to shorten his other leg."

Mr Spinelli said the laptop also held research on where treatment for his son could be carried out.

"All that information is on that computer. All his digital X-rays, his CT scans are all on there. All the contact information for all the doctors.

"I have to decide what operation he's to have very soon and without that information it's going to be hard for me to make the right choice.

"This has implications on how or whether he'll be able to walk for the rest of his life."

A small black notebook with phone numbers, medical notes and drawings by Lio was also stolen in the burglary.

He added: "Those are the only copies of photos of our last year together as a family, before my wife died. They are irreplaceable, priceless, memories for me. Worthless to anyone else."

Lorry driver Yvan Vandermeulen was jailed for two and a half years in November for causing Mrs Spinelli's death by dangerous driving.

Mr Spinelli is asking anyone who may have information about the silver and black computer, serial number CNF5191X20, to call him on 01273 479254 or 07758 014302.