A PENSIONER whose sick wife had her rings stolen while undergoing treatment at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup, has branded the thief “despicable”.

Dorothy Smith, aged 80, who suffers from dementia, was taken to the Sidcup hospital following a fall at her Bexleyheath care home.

Her husband of 54 years Len, also aged 80, says while they were at the hospital, his wife’s diamond engagement ring, which he gave her 60 years ago when he proposed, was taken.

So was her diamond eternity ring which she had worn for 40 years.

Mr Smith, of High Beeches, North Cray, has been fighting since February to get the hospital to find out what happened to his wife’s precious jewellery.

He accompanied his wife to have X-rays and claims before they were done, a nurse suggested Mrs Smith remove her engagement and eternity rings so they would not catch on her cardigan when she took it off.

Mr Smith waited outside while the X-rays were taken and took his wife back to the care home It was then he realised she did not have her rings.

He went back to the hospital the next day and registered a complaint.

Despite his attempts since then, the rings have not been found.

He said: “I feel very bitter about it.

“My wife barely knows me and our daughter, and the thief has stolen two of the few things she can relate to.”

Mr Smith said he could barely find the words to describe someone who would steal from an old lady having treatment in hospital.

He added: “How can you put a value on such things?”

A spokeswoman for Queen Mary’s said: “We are very sorry Mrs Smith’s rings are still missing.

“We are currently looking into the matter and will do all we can to ascertain what happened.”