A WIFE was devastated to find her home had been ransacked by burglars the night her husband was rushed to hospital.

Geoffrey Hassell was taken by ambulance to Broomfield Hospital from his home in Kings Chase in Witham during the night.

Once he and his wife Carole returned home the next morning, they found it had been targeted by burglars.

The couple, who are both 64 and are retiring as accountants, said they hope sharing their story would encourage others to be more vigilant.

Mrs Hassell said: "My husband had an incredible pain in his eye. I called NHS 111 at about 3am and they sent an ambulance out at about 5.30am.

"Before we went to Broomfield Hospital they asked me to leave the curtains open and the lights on so they could find the house- I had also left the window open.

"When we left I turned the lights off but left the curtains and window open. I wasn't thinking about security at the time, I just wanted to get my husband to the hospital as he was my main concern."

After tests the hospital sent Mr Hassell home that morning. They were both shocked to find more than £500 in cash had been stolen, as well as sentimental items.

She said: "They stole a little Royal Albert porcelain trinket box, it's very old fashioned and not worth much but it belonged to my stepmother and to me it means a lot- that upset me more than anything.

"Why cause all the destruction? Why pull out all the drawers in the whole house? We came home at about 8.30am to find the house ransacked and Geoffrey was really upset, he had been blaming himself."

She said the most unusual thing was that the burglars closed all the windows and left through the patio door, locking up behind themselves.

They took they key so the couple had to have the locks changed.

She said: "With the money, watches and trinket box it's a lot to lose when you're close to retirement- but the police were absolutely wonderful."

Mrs Hassell is housebound as she has chronic arthritis and lung disease, but she said she is determined to get home life back on track.

Police were made aware of the burglary which happened overnight on August 3 and 4, and ask anyone with information to call Braintree police on 101.