Fertility research lost as laptop is stolen (From South Wales Argus)

Fertility research lost as laptop is stolen

8:54am Friday 24th August 2007 in News By Ben Frampton

SIX months of research into fertility treatments have been lost after a burglary in a Newport home.

A laptop and flash device containing the data were stolen in a burglary at the Marshfield home of Lyndon Miles, head of embryology at the Cardiff Assisted Reproduction Unit, and his wife Samantha, a cancer nurse.

The burglary took place last Monday night while the couple slept upstairs. A digital camera, wallet and sunglasses were also taken.

"It's months of hard work and working to the benefit of infertility patients, we're probably talking at least six months of work. I have to give presentations and talks to patients and professionals and all that is gone. I also develop new treatments and that has gone," said Mr Miles.

As well as losing the important work, photographs of Mr and Mrs Miles' wedding in Kenya last year, which Mr Miles described as "impossible to replace" were also taken.

The research stored on the laptop was backed up on the flash device, but that was also taken.

"The people who lose out are patients, that's the reason I want to get it back," he said.

Gwent Police have confirmed that investigations into the crime are ongoing and are appealing for anyone with information to ring 01633 838 111.