A PENSIONER was left stranded by heartless thieves who stole his mobility scooter before destroying it.

The vehicle was stolen from outside the man’s home in Ferryhill on Wednesday night and later set alight and abandoned.

It is thought the silver coloured Quingo Plus machine was taken between 10pm and midnight on Wednesday June 10.

It was kept in its usual place in a shed next to the house, in Ravensworth Road, but the thief or thieves managed to gain access to the shed and also to the ignition key.

The vehicle was then unplugged from its electric charger and driven off; the victim became aware something was wrong shortly after midnight and he rang the police after discovering the break-in.

On Thursday the scooter, worth £2,500, was discovered burned out in the Dean Bank area of Ferryhill, at the back of the Dean & Chapter Industrial Estate.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police on 0345-60-60-365 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.