A disabled woman’s mobility scooter was trashed by heartless vandals while she was at a school reunion on Friday.
Wendy Welburn, 54, had parked the bike outside Crawley Green Sports & Social Club for the evening and when she came outside she found it had been destroyed.
The wires had all been pulled out and the electrics were ruined by the rain, and her luggage set on the back had been partly stolen – the remaining pieces were slashed.
Wendy, who lives in Kynance Close, Luton, said: “I was incensed. I had had such a good evening, I was in a great mood, and to come out and find that was awful.
“Why would you do it to a disabled person? That bike is my legs, I depend on it for my freedom, to get out and about. I would have thought after the Paralympics people would be aware that these pieces of equipment are our legs. We don’t have a choice.”
The incident upset Wendy so much that she was taken to hospital with a suspected heart attack over the weekend.
When she discovered the bike outside the club she had no other way of getting home and she had to try and ride it home in the dark and pouring rain, which she said was a very slow journey.
Wendy, above, said: “The whole thing has upset me tremendously. It’s extra stress and pressure I didn’t need. I hope karma has an effect on the people who did this because of the stress and aggro it has caused me. It just stinks.”
The specialised motorbike was not insured, because Wendy says she is on a low income of £50 a week and couldn’t afford it.
She said: “Everyone knew me and my bike. It’s all chrome and flashy – I think that’s what drew them to it. They have just trashed it. It’s devilment, I don’t think it was malicious. I can’t afford to replace it though.”