Motorcyclist devastated as 'brazen' thieves steal bike in town centre car park (From Dorset Echo)

Motorcyclist devastated as 'brazen' thieves steal bike in town centre car park

10:30am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News By Rachael Burnett

A MOTORCYCLIST is devastated after ‘brazen’ thieves loaded his bike on to a lorry in a busy Weymouth town centre car park.

Andrew McNulty, of Kitchener Road, Weymouth, said his £1,500 Yamaha motorbike was stolen from the Jubilee Retail Park car park last week.

The 18-year-old, who is studying motor vehicle fitting and works at McDonald’s, said he is devastated after ‘brazen’ thieves loaded his bike on to the back of a lorry and drove away.

Mr McNulty, who was an Olympic torchbearer last summer, said: “The whole thing was caught on our CCTV, a flatbed lorry came through the drive-through and then they wheeled my bike on to the back and drove off.

“I’ve got the registration number and in the footage you can see the person’s face.”

He added: “I worked really hard and saved for ages to get that bike, I’ve wanted it since I was 15.

“It was only October when I bought it and I’ve spent hundreds doing it up as well.

“If I don’t get it back there’s no way I’ll get another like it again.”

Mr McNulty said: “I took my bike everywhere – I was always on it.

“It’s my only way of getting to work and I’ve got a new job on Portland and now I won’t be able to get there either.

“The car park is always full and someone just wheeled it off.

“If I had been there 20 minutes earlier I would have seen them.

“I’m gutted – when I got home I ripped down all my bike posters and threw my helmet away.”

Mum Moira Lawton said: “It’s heartbreaking for me to see because he works so hard and it’s all gone wrong now.

“I just couldn’t believe it when I heard what had happened that someone could just go up and wheel it away in front of everyone.

“We’re hoping somebody has seen something and will come forward.

“It’s insured but you’ve still got to pay the excess and it’s a one of a kind. He’s not a bad lad, he doesn’t deserve this.”

The bike, a black Yamaha DTR125, was stolen at around 6.30pm on Tuesday, February 26.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “Our investigation is still ongoing and is very much active.

“We would appeal for any witnesses or anyone with information to contact us.”

Call Dorset Police on 101, quoting reference number 26:404.

Teenager won award as carer

ANDREW McNulty carried the Olympic flame for 300m through Chickerell in July last year.

He was chosen to represent his community after years of selflessly helping his poorly mum Moira.

The Weymouth College student overcame more knocks in his first 17 years than many people experience in a lifetime.

At the age of five, he was paralysed down one side by Guillain–Barré syndrome – a serious condition of the peripheral nervous system – and had to learn to walk again.

Aged 10, he witnessed a murder and had to give evidence in court, then at 13 he had to undergo a hip operation.

Andrew was awarded for his outstanding support of his family – cleaning and cooking for his mother, and caring for his three younger brothers and sister.