A BIG-HEARTED Boscombe trader, stunned by the theft of a charity collection box for a three-year-old girl whose mother was allegedly murdered, is donating £100 to the worthy cause.

Len Faye, owner of the Catalogue Discount Store in Sea Road, said: “After reading in the Daily Echo how someone had stolen hundreds of pounds intended for that little girl I just felt I had to do something.

“About 30 per cent of my customers are from the local Polish community; they are lovely people and I want to make a difference.”

Police are hunting a thief who fled with the box, containing between £300 and £400, from the Fajny Sklep Polish food store in Christchurch Road, Boscombe, last Sunday.

The money was intended for the daughter of waitress Katarzyna Ryba who suffered a fatal stab wound to her heart at a Bournemouth flat block in the early hours of Friday, October 2.

The 26-year-old mother-of-one died a short time later at Poole hospital.

Touched by the tragedy, Mr Faye said: “I hope other local traders and residents will also donate to this very worthwhile cause.”

Donations to the fund, set up to send Ms Ryba’s only child back to Poland to be cared for by her family, can be made at HSBC Premier Bank; quoting DLA KASI, account number 70019135 and sort code 40 37 44.

  • Piotr Zasaba, 32, from Norwich Road, Bournemouth, has been charged with Miss Ryba’s murder. He will appear before Winchester Crown Court on December 18.