A VULNERABLE disabled man has made a heartfelt appeal to the thieves who stole his ‘lifeline’ mobility scooter to return it.

Neil Hillman, who has learning difficulties and Albright syndrome, a complex genetic disorder which causes mutations in his bones leaving him able to only walk short distances, said he is ‘distraught and bereft’ after his ‘pride and joy’ was stolen from the garden of his Blackburn home.

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The 58-year-old, of Hareden Brook Close, Queen’s Park said the thieves who took his scooter have stolen the ‘key to his independence’.

Mr Hillman said: “This has really hit me hard.

“I just want it back and to get my life back to normal.

“I’d like to appeal to those who took it to just bring it back, leave it outside where you found it and that will be the end of it.”

The father-of-three had only had the scooter for six months when it was taken last weekend when thieves cut through a metal chain lock which was securing it to an outside iron fence.

Mr Hillman said: “I’d been to the shop on Saturday and had locked the scooter to the fence when I returned.

“I wanted to go out again the next day but it wasn’t there.

“I felt shattered, the scooter is my lifeline, it means I can have some independence and get out and about around town.

“It’s really knocked me. You wonder about the people who did this and it’s very upsetting.”

Mr Hillman’s mobility scooter was a Kymco-Mini model, in black and grey and has a plastic shelter cover and two wing mirrors.

It was leased on a monthly basis from his disability allowance at £100 per month.

Since the theft Mr Hillman has borrowed an older scooter from a friend but that will have to be returned shortly. His insurers said they will not be able to replace his stolen model for three weeks in case it is returned.

Mr Hillman’s wife of 30 years, Yolanda, 49, said: “When Neil came in and told me his scooter had gone he was distraught.

“It was secured in the same place it always is and we’ve never had an incident before.

“It’s vital for him, he uses it for shopping and to get to medical appointments as walking is impossible. The bus is very difficult and taxis are too expensive.

“It’s quite tight knit around here and there’s not a lot of crime. It’s made me so angry and frustrated that someone would target him like this.

“The people who stole it are heartless and cruel.

“The police have said it will be difficult to trace because there is no CCTV or witnesses.

“I just hope if anyone sees it then they report it to the police.”

Councillor Faryad Hussain, who represents the Queens Park ward, said it was an ‘unfortunate and distressing incident’.

He said: “This has had a big impact as this man relies on the scooter.

“If this was youngsters doing a so called prank then I would urge them to think what they have done and return it straight way.

“It’s terrible that someone who is disabled has been affected by this crime.”

A spokesman for Lancashire police urged anyone with information or who witnessed the theft to come forward.

He said: “We believe the scooter was taken in the early hours of Sunday, October 16.

“If anyone has information about the theft we would urge them to call 101 quoting crime reference ED1615879.”