Paraplegic is reunited with stolen trike (From Bournemouth Echo)

Paraplegic is reunited with stolen trike

12:00pm Saturday 2nd February 2013 in News By Joanna Codd

MOBILE: Stephen Kitson at his home at Baiter Park in Poole

A DISABLED former dive instructor has been reunited with his ‘lifeline’ – a £1,000 motorised tricycle that was stolen from his Poole flat.

The battery-powered trike was recovered by police in the Kinson area of Bournemouth, miles from Stephen Kitson’s home near Seldown Bridge in Poole.

“I picked it up and had to ride it back in the rain. It had slight damage but was all intact,” he said.

He thanked the Daily Echo for its story about the theft.

“A couple of people stopped me on the way back and asked if I was the owner of the stolen bike. I’m chuffed to bits – it’s like having my right arm back or both my legs.”

Stephen, 55, was lucky to survive after suffering the bends in a diving accident off Weymouth 11 years ago.

After 15 months in hospital and years of rehabilitation he is able to walk short distances using sticks but still suffers near-constant pain and spasms.

He imported the trike and had it customised to help him get around and keep fit.

It was locked in the lobby of his flats building when it was stolen on January 9 or 10.

The £200 battery was left behind, leading Stephen to fear that the trike would end up dumped in a ditch.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said they were unable to release details of the circumstances of the trike’s recovery as the investigation was ongoing.