A devastated mum fears her pet could be used in illegal dog-fighting after it was stolen from outside her Westcliff home.

Jasmine, a friendly Staffordshire bull terrier, was snatched by a mystery woman who called the dog over while she played in the family's garden in Southbourne Grove.

Now 34-year-old Donna Snelling is comforting her three children after the theft of Jasmine around 2.30pm on Tuesday.

She said: "I live in a cul-de-sac and my dog is not the kind that wanders off. The children were out in the garden with their friends and my neighbour saw a woman call my dog from across the road. The woman picked up my dog and walked off with her."

Published Thursday, February 21, 2002