YOBS stole a disabled man’s new mobility scooter before stripping it for parts and dumping it in an alleyway.

Michael McBryde says he has been left feeling ‘angry and saddened’ after his mobility scooter, which he depends on to get around, was stolen from outside his home.

Mr McBryde, aged 76, of Lubbecke Way in Dorchester, was shocked to discovered his vehicle, a silver and black King Cobra, had been stolen on Monday morning.

It had been parked up against his house in his front garden and covered in heavy tarpaulin and secured with straps.

He reported the incident to police – but then discovered it later the same day dumped 300 yards away in an alleyway, where it had been stripped for parts.

Mr McBryde has put in an insurance claim but he has been told the damage caused to the mobility scooter is in the region of £1,800.

He said: “My mobility scooter was stolen. It has been found but has been stripped of its wheels, battery and wing mirror.”

Mr McBryde suffers from lung problems and issues with his knees. He can only walk 10 yards before he has to stop.

He explained: “The scooter was only two months old. It’s my form of independence. People don’t tend to care anymore, it’s sad that people would do something like this.

“I’m without a mobility scooter until I can replace it. I’ll have to wait to see if the insurance company will pay.

“I’m angry and saddened, I just wish I could get hold of whoever has done this.”

Mr McBryde said he has spoken to Dorchester Mobility, where he purchased the mobility scooter, and was told the damage would cost £1,800 to fix.

Dorset Police received a report of the stolen scooter at 9.05am on Monday, January 20. It was stolen sometime between 9.30am on Sunday, January 19 and the morning of Monday, January 20.

The force said the scooter was found damaged on Monday in an alleyway between Lubbecke Way and St George’s Road in Dorchester. No arrests have been made.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “Enquiries are underway. No arrests have been made.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 55200009589.

"This is not just a crime"

DORCHESTER councillor Cllr David Taylor, who uses a mobility scooter after snapping several bones in his foot, has condemned the crime.

He said: “How can anybody do this? It’s outrageous.

“I hope the perpetrators are caught.This is not just a crime, it’s a way of disarming a person from the independence of their life.

“My thoughts go out to the gentleman. I know if I lost my scooter, I would be stuck in the house, you can’t go anywhere, you’re quite dependent on it. It’s your livelihood.

“The levels people will go too for theft, completely inconveniencing people who are just trying to live their daily lives.”

He added: “Surely someone must have seen something going on, it’s a busy road.”