A woman has been left devastated after a heartless thief stole her travel and shopping bags while she suffered an epileptic seizure.

Nicola Kennedy was waiting to get on a bus in Canterbury when she "zoned out" before coming back around and realising her possessions had been swiped.

Nicola Kennedy speaks of her ordeal

The thief, who also rummaged through her handbag, ran off with an £80 Cath Kidston cabin bag containing an iPad and clothes.

The upset Iceland worker, who was diagnosed with epilepsy aged nine and also has learning difficulties, says those who stole her belongings can "go ahead and choke" on the food they snatched.

Miss Kennedy, a former school cleaner, is desperate to get back her iPad - which she bought with money left to her in her late nan's will.

The 32-year-old, who lives in the hamlet of Selstead between Canterbury and Dover, was about to head home from the city's bus station on Monday morning when the incident happened.

"I was queueing up and everything seemed normal," she said.

"But I have spontaneous seizures where I kind of zone out and glare into space.

"I had one while waiting to get on the bus and didn't notice people were stealing from me.

"No members of the public helped or chased the people down.

"I looked down and was searching in my handbag in a panic - that's when I noticed I had been mugged.

"It makes me feel sick. They completely took advantage of my state.

"How can someone sleep at night knowing they have done such a horrible thing?"

Police say they are investigating the incident, which happened at about 11.30am, and reviewing CCTV.

Miss Kennedy, who says she will now be more wary when out-and-about, believes her epileptic seizure lasted between two and three minutes.

"I'm not bothered about the food they've taken - as far as I care, they can choke on it," she said.

"What hurts the most is my main priorities like my iPad and case have gone.

"Some thug out there has got them now. The scum can wear my dirty clothes, I'm not bothered about them.

"But my iPad is what I use most in day-to-day life by selling stuff, looking at the news and and my photos.

"It hurts that someone is probably putting it up for sale on eBay.

"I only earn a little bit of money working two days a week and I worked hard to earn enough to buy the case.

"To think some thug is using pliers to unlock it is very sad."

She says her epilepsy takes the form of "absence seizures" - causing her to blank out - rather than where the sufferer falls to the ground.

Any witnesses or anyone with information should call the police on 01843 222289 quoting reference 46/197954/19.

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