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Boy, 8, left virtually blind by rare disease, ticks off bucket list dream by being police officer for a day

Young and blind Oscar Jealous aged 8 (left) on his ‘dream day’ getting a special tour of West Midlands Police’s Bournville station with his brother Charlie. See SWNS story SWMDwish. A young boy who lost his sight due to a rare life-limiting disease enjoyed a "dream day" by becoming an honorary police officer, ticking off one of the items on his bucket list. Oscar Jealous, 8, from Kingstanding, Birmingham, recently spent the day with West Midlands Police at Bournville station. The youngster, who suffers from the degenerative Batten disease, went behind the wheel of a police car, played custody sergeant in the cell blocks and cuddled the new puppy recruits. He and his younger brother Charlie were also given warrant cards as a memento.
Oscar Jealous (left), who lost his sight due to a rare life-limiting disease, became an honorary police officer with brother Charlie (right) at a local police station. (SWNS)

An eight-year-old boy who has lost his sight due to a rare life-limiting disease enjoyed a day as an honorary police officer as he ticked off one of the items on his bucket list.

Oscar Jealous compiled a list of 30 “dream days” he hoped to complete after he was diagnosed with degenerative illness Batten disease, which will eventually leave him needing round-the-clock care, in February.

The eight-year-old, from Kingstanding in Birmingham, spent a day with West Midlands Police at a local police station, where he sat behind the wheel of a squad car, played custody sergeant in the cells and also enjoyed cuddles with some new puppy recruits.

He and younger brother Charlie were also given warrant cards as a memento after their day at the station.

The 'dream day' was one of 30 things on a bucket list Oscar has compiled. (SWNS)
The 'dream day' was one of 30 things on a bucket list Oscar has compiled. (SWNS)

Oscar’s aunt, PC Laura Colclough, arranged the visit after telling colleagues about her nephew.

She said: “Oscar and Charlie are both obsessed with the police – probably from having an auntie that catches robbers – so being a police officer was one of the first entries on his bucket list.

Read more: How many things on this 50 before 50 bucket list have you achieved?

“Oscar has lost almost all his sight now but there are lots of sounds in a police station to keep him entertained.

“He's had a fantastic day and it's heart-warming to see the smile on his face.”

Oscar also met some new puppy recruits during his visit. (SWNS)
Oscar also met some new puppy recruits during his visit. (SWNS)

Oscar’s bucket list also includes going on the set of his favourite TV show Tipping Point and meeting Harry Kane, both of which have been pledged, and he also hopes to fly in a helicopter, meet Father Christmas in Lapland and go up the Eiffel Tower.

A GoFundMe page set up to help Oscar's family pay for his care and to fulfil his wishlist has so far raised more than £30,000.

West Midlands Police firearms officer PC Glenn Brabham also endured a gruelling marathon wearing his police body armour to raise money for Oscar.

PC Colclough added: “We are truly overwhelmed with the offers of support, many from people who don't know us, and I cannot thank people enough for getting behind us to give Oscar some time to remember.”