POLICE are appealing for an innocent Birmingham shopper who bought a stolen mobile phone containing images of a newborn baby who died to hand it in.

The phone, a Samsung G600, was stolen in the city centre on November 18.

Stored on the phone were images of the victim’s recently born child who sadly died a short time after birth.

It was subsequently discovered that the thief sold the phone to a trader at Birmingham market, claiming to be the owner. And it was then sold on to an innocent member of the public.

PC Mat Evans, from Steelhouse Lane police station, said: “This is a very sad case where a woman’s bag was stolen whilst out in the city, and within it was her mobile phone.

“Photographs which were on the phone are the only ones the lady has of her baby who tragically died a few days after birth.

“The victim is clearly distraught that the only record she had of her baby has now gone.”

Following investigation by local police officers, a 30-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident and subsequently charged with theft. He later appeared before Birmingham Magistrates Court where he was found guilty of the offence and sentenced to nine weeks in custody.

Although the thief has probably wiped the memory on the phone before selling it to the market trader, police believe it may still be possible for them to recover some of the baby pictures using their own technical experts, provided the handset can be found.

The woman’s whose phone it was has also offered up a reward for the return of the missing pictures, as well as reimburse the shopper for whatever he or she paid for it.

PC Evans added: “It seems this phone was sold some time between November 18 and 20 but we don’t know its whereabouts after that.

“Anyone who bought a Samsung G600 from Birmingham market around that time may actually be able to help the victim find those lost images.”

The victim has offered to refund any costs to the person who bought the phone.