AN EIGHT-year-old boy has had every bike he has owned stolen - and it's happened AGAIN.

Since he was able to ride, all seven of the bikes Helen Occardi has bought for her son Joshua have been stolen.

They have been taken while he had his back turned for a few moments or while he left them near to where he was playing.

But in the latest incident, thieves carried out a vicious attack to get their booty - Joshua's £80 Gemini Overlander, a Christmas present from mum Helen.

Joshua, of Brading Close, Eastbourne, was riding home after playing with friends only a few hundred metres away at Stone Cross when he was attacked at the junction of Friday Street and Arun Way. He was punched twice, knocked off his bike and watched helplessly as two youths stole it.

The tearful Shinewater School, Eastbourne, pupil returned home to tell his mother of the incident yesterday.

Helen said: "This isn't a particularly rough area. I just don't understand it. The last bike I bought him was two years ago and that was stolen while he was playing with friends. I vowed never to do it again.

"But he loves riding and when I saw this bike for sale I thought I'd give in. I'm not sure now whether I'll get him another one.

" When Joshua came back he was more upset that I'd be angry with him.

"But far from it. I'm only angry with the people who have done this."

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