People With Special Needs | Awesome Tattoos

Heartache at theft of bike (From This Is Wiltshire)

Heartache at theft of bike

7:00pm Thursday 18th August 2011

KIND-HEARTED Andy Watts, who works to support disabled people, is devastated after being targeted by thieves for the third time this month.

Andy, 54, was disgusted when burglars stole a grey HP laptop containing years of irreplaceable recordings from his flat in Stratton Road on August 4.

He later found that someone had tried to force the main door of Amber Studios in Harveys Yard, off Shrivenham Road, which he runs to support people with special needs.

on Wednesday, thieves stole the electric quad bike he uses to raise funds for charity and to promote community events, as well as for personal transport.

Andy said: “I’m gutted. It’s because of what I’m using it for. my quad gives me my leisure, I ride around on my quad, I never drive a car. And I just see it as a good way of fundraising.

“Whatever they take, I don’t think the thieves ever stop and think about what effect it has on anybody. I cannot live in a flat where, if I hear a noise outside, I’m jumping up. I wouldn’t say I’m scared but I’m not comfortable where I live at the moment.”

The blue Jianshe 229CC quadbike – registration OU09 HMY – cost Andy £1,800 when he bought it two years ago.

recently blind radio presenter Lisa Kennett completed a sponsored ride along the Ridgeway to raise money towards a promotional caravan for community radio station Swindon 105.5.

Andy and the radio station are working together on the Red Light Project, which will see disabled youngsters record their own songs at Amber Studios and then broadcast them on air.

to promote a fundraising fun day for the project, Andy planned to put an A-board on the back of the bike, dress in a monkey suit and hand out leaflets at different venues.

CCTV footage shows that at 4am on Wednesday, thieves parked a white van outside Andy’s home. It appears they lifted the bike into the van and drove off.

Andy said: “I’m thinking that it was more like three people involved because we have had to move it about before when we are doing work on it and it’s heavy. If you are doing it quickly, unless you are very strong, you would certainly need more than two people.”

The family fun day will be held at The Bell Hotel, in old Town, on August 28 from 2pm until late. The day will include bands, children’s games, face painting and henna tattoos.

Anyone with information can contact police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Read these News stories