A disabled father-to-be who planned to sell his prized watches to pay for life-changing treatment to help him walk again was left “heartbroken” when they were stolen.

Nathan Coombs, of Larch Green, Grahame Park, has muscle wasting disease muscular dystrophy and has been in a wheelchair since he was 15.

His girlfriend, Charlotte, is expecting their first child in January – a girl they plan to call Millie – and they were going to harvest the cells from her placenta to help rebuild Nathan’s bones.

But thieves broke into his home and stole the eight £6,000 watches he had been planning to sell to pay for the £2,000 a go procedure.

The 23-year-old said: “It’s terrible they’ve done this. Some completely heartless person has done more than taken my watches – they’ve robbed me of my independence and the rest of my life.

“I was so excited about the prospect of being able to walk again. It was going to change my life. I feel upset and totally down about it, there aren’t any words really.

“It’s all I can think of. I’ve had terrible chest pains. I don’t know what to do with myself.”

The burglary happened last Tuesday at the home Nathan shares with his mother, Tanya Bell, who is also his full-time carer.

Thieves also ransacked Ms Bell’s bedroom, stealing diamond rings, a charm bracelet and a Michael Kors watch.

Nathan has been collecting watches since he was a child, saving up to buy them with pocket money from his father.

Ms Bell, who is Nathan’s full-time carer, realised they had been burgled when she came home after food shopping last Tuesday.

The 49-year-old realised Nathan’s room and her bedroom had been ransacked and began to panic.

She said: “The surgery was supposed to change his life and he’s had to put it all on hold because he can’t afford to pay for it himself.

“The procedure has to be done as soon as the baby is born. If he doesn’t get the watches back he’ll miss the boat completely. Who knows when Charlotte will get pregnant again?

“It’s so hurtful. Nathan is heartbroken. It’s disgusting. What person would rob from someone who is disabled? We’ve got ramps and a hoist throughout the house so it’s obvious.

“Nathan doesn’t have much – he can’t work because of his disability so he has always enjoyed collecting watches. I really feel for him. They have cleared him out.”

Despite his disability, he managed to go to college to study music and he dreamed of getting a job in the industry after the surgery.

But that will now have to be put on hold as the stem cell treatment can only be carried out as soon as the baby is born.

They are now trying to raise the money to pay for the stem cell treatment but with just four months to go, they fear they will not reach the target.

She added: “It’s ruined everything – it’s completely changed his life plans. He had so many goals. The thieves haven’t just taken a few watches and a few bits of jewellery, they’ve taken his life.”

Police are investigating and no arrests have been made. Anyone with information should call 101.

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