Ref. 31021-72A BOY who saved up his pocket money to buy his dad a present for Father's Day had it cruelly snatched from under his nose.

Sam Poynter, eight, of Baytree Court, Pinehurst, was thrilled when he bought a Pierre Cardin cigarette lighter with his savings for dad Adam.

But just moments later a thief had stolen Sam's shopping bag, which he had rested on the floor while he looked at greetings cards.

Sam was shopping in Swindon town centre with his mum Charlotte and four-year-old brother Charlie when the theft happened on Saturday afternoon.

He had bought the lighter in Index at about 1pm and then went to Card Warehouse in The Parade.

Sam, a pupil at Pinehurst Junior School, said: "I felt really sad when the bag and present had gone.

"I wanted to get dad the lighter because he has just started smoking again. I chose it myself and bought it with pocket money I saved up. In future I'll hold on to the shopping bag and not put it on the floor."

Postman Adam, 36, said: "I felt pretty annoyed when Sam told me what had happened. He seemed upset about it and I felt more sad for him because I know it had meant a lot for him to buy me something with his pocket money.

"You have to be so careful when you're at the shops now.

"Father's Day is special in our house. You appreciate the family around you."

Charlotte, 32, an assistant at Little Pinetrees playgroup, said she had been holding the bag but Sam insisted he wanted to look after it.

She said: "He was excited to be doing everything himself, like saving the money, choosing the present and then deciding which card to buy.

"He was holding the bag with pride just before he put it down. I think he found it quite hard to believe that someone could snatch it right from under him, but it has taught him to hold on to things in the future.

"It's bad enough when this sort of thing happens to an adult but it's more upsetting when it involves a child.

"Whoever took the bag should be utterly ashamed of themselves."

The silver lighter, which cost £12.49, has the words Pierre Cardin Paris written down one side. It comes in a silver circular presentation box.

Charlotte, who didn't report the incident to the police, added: "I went back and bought another lighter but Sam said it wasn't the same because it hadn't been bought with his money."

Bethany Jordan, manager at Card Warehouse, said: "I wasn't aware of the incident. If I had been told I would have apologised to the lady and tried to find out who had taken the bag and notified the police.

Alex Emery