Mum's plea over theft of disabled son's bike

Daniel France, whose bike has been stolen, with his mother Wendy.

PETER WALSH
09 September 2009 11:00



The mother of a disabled teenager who had his bike stolen has made a plea for information about the whereabouts of her son's bike - and has called on other youngsters to be aware that cycle thieves are operating.

Daniel France, 19, from Devonshire Street, off Dereham Road, Norwich, has spent much of the summer having to borrow a bike after his was stolen outside a shop in the city in August.

The youngster, who suffers from Williams Syndrome, which physically and mentally means he is about the age of a 14-year-old, has been left upset by the theft which happened outside a shop in Distillery Square.

The silver Barracuda mountain bike, which had front and rear disc brakes and a bell on the handlebar, was given to Daniel a couple of years ago as a birthday present.

“He's had it two years but he only took it out in the summer because he can't bare the cold,” said Daniel's mother Wendy.

“He said he left it leaning against the entrance of the shop with the wheel half showing. He quickly went into the shop for a packet of bubble gum, paid for it, and came straight back out again and in that short time it had gone. You just never think it's going to happen to you unfortunately.

Mrs France, 59, the manageress of a furniture shop, in Dereham Road, today called on anyone with any information about the theft, which happened sometime between 3pm and 3.20pm on Tuesday, August 4 to come forward and call police.

She added her son, a former Parkside special school student, had been left devastated by the theft.

“It has upset him and he is annoyed at himself,” she said. “His birthday came two weeks after it happened and I don't know if he thought he was going to get a new bike, but it didn't happen. He's borrowed a bike since, but that's not the point.”

The mother-of-one, who lives with Daniel and her husband Chris, 59, has urged other teenagers to be mindful that bike thieves are operating in the city.

PC Simon Gooch, of Norfolk police, said: “This was a mindless crime. It has caused significant distress to the victim and I would appeal for anyone with information to come forward.”

Williams Syndrome is a non-hereditary condition which occurs at random and can effect brain development in varying degrees, combined with some physical effects or physical problems. It affects roughly one in 25,000 people.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has knowledge of it should contact PC Simon Gooch at Earlham Police Station on 0845 4564567 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Have you been the victim of theft? Call reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk

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