DESPICABLE thieves robbed a vet as he lay dead on the floor of his surgery.

James Richmond, 27, collapsed at the Pet Vaccination Centre in Yeading Lane, Hayes, and was found dead by his distraught girlfriend Rosana Capon-Richards.

Rosana, who is also a vet, ran from the surgery to get help after discovering James' body.

But she was left in total disbelief after discovering one of the strangers who had come to her aid had stepped over his body and stolen his possessions as she waited for police to arrive.

Rosana, 28, from Northolt, told the Hillingdon Times: "I feel I have let James down - to let strangers come in to steal from his body.

"And I feel let down. That was my greatest hour of need in my entire life and this is what they did to me."

Rosana told how she ran outside and flagged down a car as soon as she saw James on the floor at 10.30am on Sunday, November 5.

She said: "I ran outside for help and a red car drew up. Two white guys got out and I was shouting and crying and saying what had happened, but they didn't seem keen to go in there.

"Three other black guys were hanging around behind them and there was also an Asian guy. Then they all came in and I showed them where James was but then I had to sit down in reception. I physically couldn't get up. I was so distressed.

She continued: "I know somebody was trying to help him. Somebody tried to resuscitate him, and somebody was dialling 999. Three of them got on their mobiles and I remember people shouting out to me what's the address, what's the address'."

It was only later that Rosana discovered that one of the men had robbed James. His wallet had been taken from his pocket and his mobile phone, lap top and credit cards stolen. The takings from the surgery were also stolen as his girlfriend waited for help to arrive.

Rosana said: "Somebody actually stepped over his body to unplug his laptop to steal it. Somebody must have gone through his pockets as he lay there. They took his money and his mobile phone. They took his camera which had last precious photos of James on."

She added: "I remember seeing people walking backwards and forwards but I wasn't really taking any notice. I was distraught, screaming and crying, and while I was in this state, people were stealing from him."

Rosana's handbag was also rifled through and her mobile, which had precious text messages from James and pictures of him saved on it, was stolen.

She said: "James and I met in our first year at university. He was the love of my life."

Police have issued an appeal for information. One of the men is described as white, aged about 17 to 20. He had short dark hair, was of slim build and was wearing a dark jacket, tracksuit bottoms and dark trainers.

Three other men were described as being black. One was aged about 16 to 19 years old and had short hair. He was wearing a grey hooded top under a dark jacket with large white writing on the back. Another was aged 18 to 22 and was wearing a black cap with a big afro-type ponytail poking out behind the hat. He wore jeans, dark shoes and a dark puffa jacket. The third was aged about 17 to 20 years old, with short hair and was wearing a dark jacket.

l Anyone with information should call PC Devan Taylor on 020 8246 1568.