‘What heartless person could do this?’
130916a David Chamberlain, of Queen Street, Filey, who had his wheelchair stolen, pictured with his wife Gemma, and their children, Emily, 3, Catrina, 7, and Zack, 5
A disabled father-of-three has been robbed of the chance of going outside with his children after callous thieves pinched his wheelchair.
Devastated David Chamberlain, of Filey, awoke on Sunday morning to find his £4,500 custom electric chair had been stolen, by drunken louts, police believe.
With his insurance only paying out on half of the cost of the chair, the theft has also hit the 27-year-old in the pocket, and he simply can’t understand how anybody could be so heartless.
“I just want to know what they were thinking – they might see it as a bit of a jest, but either they don’t understand or they are just heartless.
“I have a walking stick to travel short distances, but I have three children, and if I want to travel longer differences or do anything outside with them, I depend on it.
“But now I can’t, and I don’t know how I’m going to raise the cash for another once the insurance has settled on it.
“This just isn’t something that you can just go out and get.”
His blue framed chair, which had been adapted with a power pack, had been left in the communal area of the flats he lives in on Queen Street on Saturday night.
The culprits are believed to have barged into the flats before taking it at around 3.30am.
A neighbour had attempted to raise the alarm, however they were unable to awake Mr Chamberlain.
As of going to print, the specialist chair has still not been located, and Filey Police are now issuing an appeal for anybody who knows anything about the incident to come forward to help reunite Mr Chamberlain with his lifeline.
The chair is described as having a blue frame with black seats.
It has electric wheels and what is believed to be a Yamahaha battery pack.
Mr Chamberlain added that he does have one possible replacement lined up – although it would involve a near 10-hour drive to pick it up.
Anybody with any information is asked to contact Filey Police on the non-emergency number of 101.
l What do you think? Are you able to help Mr Chamberlain? Email ian.jhnson@yrnltd.co.uk or call (01723) 383809.
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Weather for Filey
Thursday 20 June 2013
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Temperature: 11 C to 16 C
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