A DISABLED man who lost his leg to cancer has labelled thieves who stole and wrecked his mobility scooter as “sick”.

Colin Parker discovered his mobility scooter had gone missing from his home in Wilshere Crescent, Hitchin, on Monday morning.

The scooter, which Mr Parker had paid for himself, was found later that evening by a neighbour in nearby garages but was left in such a terrible condition that it was “unrecognisable”.

The 62-year-old, who had his leg amputated four years ago after contracting bone cancer, said: “My wife came in and said the chair’s gone.

“I thought kids might have taken it for a joyride so we decided to go out and have a look for it as we thought it couldn’t have gone far.

“When we found it it was unrecognisable as a mobility scooter. They’ve wedged it between a garage and a hedge - they totally wrecked it.

“I’m lucky that I’m in a position where I have family and friends that live near me to help. It’s not the be all and end all for me but there are elderly people in the area that have got them and it’s their only means of communication for everything.

“Whoever has done this has got no conscience - I think they’re sick. They know what a mobility scooter is used for. They’re not cheap either and there’s no insurance.”

Hitchin police community support officer Simon Hoad said: “This is a cruel and selfish act which has left the victim without their main mode of transport.

“A number of enquiries have taken place already, including house to house enquires and looking at CCTV, however I would urge anyone who believes they saw the offender riding off on the scooter to contact me as a matter of urgency.

“It may be that you saw someone on the scooter and thought it was out of the ordinary. Any information you have could greatly assist the investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the non-emergency number on 0845 33 00 222.