Amputee's wheelchair stolen from outside Brighton cinema (From The Argus)

Amputee's wheelchair stolen from outside Brighton cinema

2:10pm Wednesday 23rd November 2011 in News

An amputee’s electric wheelchair was stolen while he was in a cinema.

Mick Dabner, who lost his leg in a motorcycle crash, was left stranded on his crutches after the theft outside the Duke of York’s Picturehouse in Brighton.

He left the immobilised wheelchair outside the cinema in Preston Circus while he watched Shame, a film being screened as part of the Brighton Film Festival between 6.30pm and 8.30pm on Thursday, November 17.

The 59-year-old, of Brunswick Street East, Hove, said he immobilises the Rascal P200 wheelchair when he goes into shops, pubs or restaurants, as it is easier using crutches.

He said: “I assumed it would be all right. It is a public place.

“You can’t move it. There is a way of disengaging the gears but you have to know what you’re doing.

"I was gobsmacked. It’s a pretty low thing to do. Why would anyone want to steal a wheelchair?”

He had had two bags stolen from the back of the chair the previous Saturday (November 12) in Church Street.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sussex Police on 101, quoting serial 1615 of November 17.

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