A BIG-HEARTED Gazette reader made sure Christmas wasn’t ruined for a girl whose phone was stolen by crooks four days after she was given it as a present.

When Michael O'Dwyer, from Clacton, heard about 12-year-old Jade De’Ath’s story, he immediately set about making things right for the schoolgirl.

Jade, from West Bergholt, was shopping in Colchester on December 29, when the £130 Blackberry phone was picked from her pocket.

But Mr O'Dwyer, 65, of Crossfield Road, dipped into his inheritance to buy Jade a new phone.

“I just thought I would like to help the girl and I had some spare money and thought ‘why not?’ he said.