iPhone disabled locked with passcode

can anyone help me? my daughters 5c is disabled, just switched it on one day and it says "iPhone is disabled, connect to iTunes" but when i connect it, iTunes says it can't connect to the phone because its locked with a passcode. i have tried connecting the phone in recovery mode and iTunes allowed me to select restore and downloaded the new software, then just said the same again, that its locked with a passcode. i have googled it over and over and i can't seem to find an answer, she's been without the phone over a month now. someone please help?