Truck theft a low blow for Wolverhampton safety firm

WE wanted to help spread the word about a truck stolen from a Wolverhampton businesswoman, in the hope someone may have some information.

Leila Kirk, who set up her own health and safety firm after fighting back from a horrific fall at work has been dealt a cruel blow by the theft of the vehicle, which she says was 'vital' to her company.

Mrs Kirk is an occupational hygienist who set up Workforce First in 2006 in a bid to help small companies become as safe as possible, and prevent work-related dangers.

But the mum-of-three was dismayed to discover the theft of her Mitsubishi pick-up truck on Bank Holiday Monday.

“I use it to transport all my testing equipment when I am going out to firms. It is bulky and I need the truck – essentially, the truck IS my business,” she said.

Mrs Kirk noticed the eight-year-old L200 pick-up, registration AHZ 5906, was missing from outside her home in High Hill, Essington, at around 10.30pm on May 4, and immediately contacted the police.

“It has the name of the company emblazoned all over it, and there’s nothing of any value to anyone else in there but it means a great deal to me and my business,” she said.

“In the beginning, I used to ride a bike to get to the firms I was helping, and I have worked extremely hard to get to the position the company’s now in.

“I set up the company to try to do some good, to help companies avoid life-threatening situations, and for someone to come along and steal the truck is just a really low blow.”

Mrs Kirk was badly injured four years ago after falling through a roof whilst working as a consultant for a Birmingham company. Her horrific injuries included a broken neck and pelvis, cracked ribs and she lost the sight in one eye.

After months of recuperation and physiotherapy, she fought her way back to fitness, and despite being a single parent caring for three young girls, put her plans into action to help businesses improve their health and safety.

Just a year later, she was named amongst the country’s top 25 business heroes when she was a finalist in the Barclay’s Trading Places awards.

She has urged anyone with information about the theft to contact Staffordshire police.