Sneak thief grabs blind student's vital laptop

A BLIND student has had her specially-adapted laptop stolen during an overnight coach trip to London.

The 1,000-plus computer was taken from the hold after Maria Marchaqa, 28, was told it was too bulky to take on board.

Now the business administration student and part-time musician feels cut off from the rest of the world and is worried about being able to pay her rent.

Ms Marchaqa, who lives in a shared house in the Grange, said: "I'm at a complete loss now. I have no means of communication and feel completely isolated.

"It is bad enough, but I am not going to be able to pay my rent for much longer. My equipment was my lifeline. The amount of time it takes me to write an essay means I have no time to go and play music, which is how I earn my rent and my living."

Having grown used to being independent, she cannot now send and receive e-mails without help.

"My partner is being supportive but we are struggling," she said. "It is very difficult as I am normally very independent. My life has just stopped."

Ms Marchaqa, who is studying business administration at the Royal National College for the Blind, travelled to London on a National Express coach. She had been upset when she was asked to put her laptop bag in the hold, rather than carry it on board, and it had vanished when she reached London.

The total cost of the laptop and speech-recognition and Easy Braille software was more than 1,000. It was not insured.

The coach company has apologised and said it will offer some compensation.

RNIB Scotland today joined her in appealing for the thief to return the computer. A spokesman said: "It's bad enough for anyone to have something stolen, but for a person with sight loss, the theft of a vital piece of equipment like this also robs them of their ability to participate in everyday life.

"In Maria's case, it has disrupted her education and ability to earn a living. We very much hope that if whoever is responsible reads this, they will return her property. Surely they will realise how devastating the consequences of their actions have been."

A spokeswoman for National Express said: "We apologise to Maria for the inconvenience this has caused and we are in touch to offer some compensation for the loss."

The spokeswoman said that hand luggage could only be taken on board if it fitted in the overhead luggage racks or under seats.