Appeal launched to find autistic student's laptop after leaving bag at bus stop

Robbie Irvine was given a laptop to help with his studes - and to help him cope with his autism. Picture; Ian Georgeson

Robbie Irvine, 22, was excelling in his computing course at Edinburgh College but his efforts were shattered on Monday evening when he hopped aboard a Lothian bus, leaving his device behind.

It wasn’t until he arrived back home in Whitecraig, East Lothian, that he noticed the bag was missing.

His mum Susan today made a desperate appeal for anyone who knows the whereabouts of the vital laptop to get in touch with the Evening News.

She and other family members have made repeated efforts to track it down without success.

Robbie was awarded a grant from the Disabled Students Allowance to enable him to buy the computer.

Ms Irvine said: “If anyone has seen the laptop bag or knows where it might be, please get in touch.

“Robbie has worked so hard up until now and he was doing fantastic at college.

“He’s been left distraught after losing his laptop as he loved it.

“Not only did it have special programmes on there to help him with his autism, but it also had all of his coursework.

“His USB with all his saved work was also in the bag.

“He’s been refusing to go to college without it, we really need it back.”

Robbie left his laptop at the Brunton Theatre bus stop in Musselburgh around 5.15pm after he had finished college on Monday.

After sitting it down beside him while he checked his mobile phone, when the number 40 bus showed up, he hopped aboard leaving it behind.

Robbie, a former pupil of Musselburgh Grammar School, hopes to graduate from college to one day become a gaming designer.

Susan fears, though, that the effects of losing his laptop will knock him off track.

She said: “Robbie is quite well known in the area.

“He’s talked quite a lot about his situation and what it’s like to have autism.”

A spokesman for East Lothian Council said: “This is a busy location close to a council office. In the event of valuable lost property items being found these would generally be taken to the police.

“We are not aware of anything being found as of yet.”

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “Lost property can be handed into your local police station and our staff will make attempts to trace the owner. If you have lost property, you can report this to us and we will check the items currently in our possession as soon as possible.

“Lost property can be reported to us by visiting your local police station, calling us on 101 or completing our online form at scotland.police.uk/contact-us/report-lost-property. Police Scotland can also offer support to anyone in need of assistance in order to complete forms.”

If you know where the laptop is, call the Evening News on 0131-311 7531.

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