Ref. 75784-10AMPUTEE Fred Cox lost his lifeline when thieves stole his electric scooter.

Mr Cox, 83, who lives in Walcot, had parked up his four-wheeled Shoprider scooter while he went on a shopping trip.

He left it outside Shopmobility in the Wyvern car park, while he borrowed one of their scooters, which is more practical and easy to manoeuvre, to go into the town centre.

But when he returned a few hours later he found the scooter had gone missing.

Mr Cox, who had to have his right leg below the knee amputated after he was hit by a car seven years ago, said he was in disbelief.

"When I came back I got in a panic. I thought I had forgotten where I had left it but then we realised it had been taken.

"I can't believe someone would take my scooter."

The theft would have left Mr Cox stuck at home with no transport but fortunately, staff at Shopmobility have lent Mr Cox one of their scooters for a month, while he orders a replacement.

Tony Hearn, manager of the Swindon Council Shopmobility, said: "In the whole time we've been here, since June 1996, we have only had two scooters and one wheelchair taken.

Both scooters were returned, although one was damaged beyond repair, so they are not a common target.

"It isn't very good. These people must know what they are doing and it's stooping pretty low to take a scooter like this.

"If he had taken his scooter into town and it had been stolen, he might have been stranded."

The burgundy-coloured scooter is very distinctive and powered by batteries which need to be charged using a specialised charger which is plugged into the mains.

Mr Cox believes the battery on his scooter was only half charged and would have provided enough power to travel three to four miles.

It is not the first time Mr Cox has suffered at the hands of thieves.

In December 2002 he had his moped stolen.

At the time he thought his Christmas was ruined but fortunately local businesses and wellwishers bought him a new one.

Swindon Police are now investigating the theft, which happened on Tuesday afternoon. Anyone with information should call them on 01793 528111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Anthony Osborne