Happy ending for Ripon girl whose World Cup ball was stolen

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A two-year-old girl whose World Cup football was stolen in Ripon has been gifted a replacement.

The girl’s mother, Akriti Kapoor, said her daughter was playing in the Whitcliffe Lane area of the city when she briefly left the ball.

“Two boys, around 10 years old, walked past, and by the time we looked back, the ball had disappeared,” Ms Kapoor posted on the Facebook group This is Ripon.

“We’ve lived in Ripon for almost nine months and have always found it to be a lovely community, so this was really disappointing. If someone did take it, I just hope they realise how upsetting it is to steal from a young child.”

She said it was a “really upsetting experience” and appealed for witnesses.

Her post touched the heart of Sara Hirst, who runs the Black Swan on Westgate with wife Kelly.

The Black Swan, on Westgate, is one of the city’s leading sports pubs and Sara offered the girl a FIFA football it had on display.

Ms Kapoor accepted the gift and called into the pub to pose for photos with Sara and Kelly this week.

“You made her so happy,” she said. “People like you restore my faith in humanity. Thank you once again.”