Link with dad stolen (From Stroud News and Journal)

Link with dad stolen

THIEVES who stole a quad bike and scrambler from a five-year-old child have severed one of the last links he had with his dead father.

Little Elliott Weeks lost his dad when he was just a baby but his grandparents bought him the bikes with the money left in his will so the tot would have something to remember his father by.

Last Thursday night the sporty bikes were stolen from his grandparents shed in Hunters Way, Cashes Green.

Even though the lock-up had an alarm, security sensor lights and a sturdy lock the thieves managed to break in without waking anyone. "We feel really gutted about it," said Elliott's granddad, Barry Weeks. "He used to take the bikes down to a club in Frampton every Sunday.

"He gets a lot of enjoyment out of it. "He didn't do anything this Sunday. "He just stayed at home with us and was very upset."

Mr Weeks said the family had done some soul searching and were reluctant to buy replacements for fear of the same thing happening again. "They were one of the few links left had with his dad," he said.

Last year Elliott was heartbroken when the toys he had left on his father's grave were vandalised.

"Now this has happened and it's knocked him right back down again," said Mr Weeks. The quad bike was a yellow and black 50cc Suzuki sports model while the scrambler was a red and white child sized 50cc Honda QR.

Anyone who can help with information on the theft is asked to call Stroud police on 0845 0901234 or Mr Weeks on 0781 3535698.