Two youngsters took a comedian’s car after stealing his jacket while he was ice skating.

Simon Evans had been with his son at the rink at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton earlier this month.

He said he had hung up his jacket, which contained his phone, car keys, and wallet, by the side when he felt hot.

But after just one circuit he noticed the jacket had been taken, and when he returned to a car park he found his silver Mercedes was gone.

Now police have issued CCTV of the two suspects wanted in connection with the theft.

Mr Evans was skating at 6.15pm on November 4.

He said skaters often remove clothing when they realise the rink is not as cold as they had supposed, and he had put his own coat on a lighting rig near an observation bay.

A red-haired teenage girl and dark-haired teenage boy were apparently sitting on his jacket, and a moment after completing a circuit, he saw his coat was gone.

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“It was pretty much immediately, within a minute, it was gone,” he said.

Managers said CCTV showed the jacket being grabbed and the suspects leaving. It was only as Mr Evans went to fetch his car that he realised the thieves had taken that as well.

He said: “Perhaps they have taken it joyriding and it will be found in a ditch or burnt out somewhere, or maybe it has been stolen for parts to order.

“But they seemed very young, I can’t even imagine them driving it, so if it was a theft to order, that would be very surprising and sinister, as I didn’t realise that was going on.

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“It is very peculiar. I don’t want to blame the ice rink, I just want people to be aware that thieves are there.

“Lots of people leave their hats and coats by the side as it appears to be safe and secure, and there has never been a vibe that your possessions are at risk.

“I feel foolish, it did not occur to me that from the jacket they could follow up and end up taking my car.”

Police have issued CCTV of the suspects. Anyone with information is asked to report it on the Sussex Police website or call 101 and quote 1010 of 04.11.

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Contact the crime reporter. Email: aidan.barlow@theargus.co.uk or call 01273 021383 or follow on Twitter @ArgusAidan